AI could be tapped to design weapons of mass destruction, DHS warns

U.S. Air Force personnel wear mission oriented protective posture gear designed for protection in hazardous environments during an an equipment demonstration at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in August 2023. U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Renan Arredondo

The Department of Homeland Security released a new report on the ways that chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons could be misused via artificial intelligence, as well as new guidelines on securing critical infrastructure in the face of AI, a stipulation from President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order on AI.  

Announced on Monday, the new documentation has two primary objectives: establishing guidelines to mitigate AI risks to critical infrastructure; and mitigating the misuse in both the development and production of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and threats. 

Released Monday, the critical infrastructure guidance focused its priorities on water supplies, power grids and telecommunications operations, which have ...