Gates warns AI could fuel cyberattacks over the next year

Bill Gates warned that malicious use of artificial intelligence could fuel cyberattacks over the next year, including extortion and attempts to disrupt financial systems or markets. He said the near-term danger is people using powerful AI tools without adequate safeguards, while the prospect of AI systems becoming uncontrollable is a more distant concern. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union on October 11, Gates said the combination of malicious actors, weak protections and increasingly capable models could bring “negative surprises” in cybersecurity. He described extortion as a clear financial motive: attackers can threaten disruption and demand payment. He also cited efforts to cause market or betting disruptions. Gates separately said officials are not doing enough to address the risk that AI could help people develop biological weapons. His remarks were an assessment of potential misuse, not evidence that an AI-enabled attack has occurred. He characterized loss of control over AI as a concern that needs attention but is years away in terms of its major impact.