Russia and China can now reportedly increase and refine their capabilities to sow discord and harm the United States' image, all thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) as per the US intelligence agencies' annual assessment of global threats. The threat assessment was reportedly presented to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday.

As per NBC, the assessment claims that Russia is thinking about how the results of the 2024 US elections can affect Western assistance to Ukraine. Russia will reportedly likely try to influence the elections in ways that best serve its objectives and interests, changing its strategies to conceal its involvement better and maybe utilize cutting-edge technologies like generative artificial intelligence in the process.

China, on the other hand, is demonstrating a higher degree of sophistication in its influence operations and is experimenting with artificial intelligence technologies. a step intended to further its goal of isolating those critical of China whilst escalating social divides in the United States.

(Photo : THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

A student from an engineering school attends, on Meudon, west of Paris, overnight on March 16, 2013, the first edition of the Steria Hacking Challenge.

Beijing is allegedly engaging in higher-level influence operations, as seen by the more robust covert information campaign it has chosen to challenge US dominance and expand its influence, employing strategies akin to those of Russia. This includes TikTok accounts managed by a propaganda arm of the People's Republic of China (PRC) that targeted candidates from both political parties back in 2022, during the US midterm elections.

When questioned during the hearing regarding foreign adversaries' use of AI-enabled tools to disseminate false information before the 2024 election, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that all of the United States' most powerful opponents are closely examining AI to improve their efforts.

Although the FBI Director made it clear that they are unsure if AI has been used particularly to target voters, they have seen it utilized in several scenarios. However, the director maintained that they are actively worried about AI being used as a weapon against voters as the most recent development in a long-running campaign of information warfare.

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AI-Trained Hacking Skills

Wray's comments directly echo a study by Microsoft that found state-backed hackers from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran honing their skills through AI.

The Microsoft and OpenAI study revealed that AI tools such as ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLM) are being used by several hacking groups from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea to increase hacking productivity and fraud schemes.

The majority of hacking organizations used LLMs or OpenAI technology to increase hacking productivity by generating phishing emails, automating computer programming and coding skills, and comprehending a variety of topics. Additionally, the study found that a tiny subset of threat actors with connections to China use LLMs for enhanced target communication and translation. 

AI Cyberattacks

The United Kingdom's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has also previously issued a warning that artificial intelligence (AI) may soon assist hackers in carrying out cyberattacks.

The GCHQ warned that in just the next two years, the rate at which AI technologies are evolving will probably lead to a global increase in cyberattacks, including ransomware attacks and phishing schemes, by making it simpler for inexperienced hackers to wreak harm online. 

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