According to a new report from The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for artificial intelligence and data science, AI must be seen as a valuable tool to support national security decision-making in government and intelligence organisations.
Published today (24 April 2024), the report’s findings highlight the potential for AI to make significant improvements in intelligence analysis, by supporting analysts to process data more quickly and accurately.
The report’s authors stated that not utilising the technology would be a missed opportunity, and could undermine the value of intelligence assessments. AI can be used to handle the administrative tasks of data processing, and identify patterns, trends, and anomalies beyond human capability.
However, the report also finds that the use of AI has the potential to exacerbate dimensions of uncertainty inherent in intelligence analysis and assessment, meaning additional guidance for users of AI in security decision-making is necessary. It also suggests that there’s continuous monitoring and evaluation involving both human judgement and AI recommendations to help counteract biases.
Further, it recommends the upskilling of intelligence analysts as well as strategic national security decision-makers, including director generals, permanent secretaries and ministers, and their staff, to build trust in the technology.
Commissioned by the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) and the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO), the Institute’s report follows action already taken by the UK government for the adoption of AI tools across the public sector.
Responding to the report and its findings, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden said: “We are already taking decisive action to ensure we harness AI safely and effectively, including hosting the inaugural AI Safety Summit and the recent signing of our AI Compact at the Summit for Democracy in South Korea.
“We will carefully consider the findings of this report to inform national security decision-makers to make the best use of AI in their work protecting the country.”
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Dr Alexander Babuta, the director of The Alan Turing Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security, which authored the report, commented: “Our research has found that AI is a critical tool for the intelligence analysis and assessment community.
“But it also introduces new dimensions of uncertainty, which must be effectively communicated to those making high-stakes decisions based on AI-enriched insights.
“As the national institute for AI, we will continue to support the UK intelligence community with independent, evidence-based research, to maximise the many opportunities that AI offers to help keep the country safe.”
Director GCHQ Anne Keast-Butler further added: “AI is not new to GCHQ or the intelligence assessment community, but the accelerating pace of change is.
“In an increasingly contested and volatile world, we need to continue to exploit AI to identify threats and emerging risks, alongside our important contribution to ensuring AI safety and security.”
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