In brief
MI5’s head Sir Ken McCallum told London that Russia and Iran are using hybrid tactics and that AI is supercharging cyber‑security battles. He spotlighted Russia’s hybrid eroding state stability, Iran’s attacks on Jewish sites and military bases, and the rising danger of extremist groups using AI‑enabled drones and bioweapons. The intelligence service has launched an AI Threat Assessment Centre to stay ahead, while noting that right‑wing extremism, especially among young people, has gained new strength.
MI5’s chief Sir Ken McCallum gave a wake‑up call in London, saying threats from Russia and Iran have quadrupled in the last decade!
He said Russia is waging what he calls ‘hybrid warfare’, combining cyber‑attacks, misinformation and occasional sabotage, while Iran is targeting Jewish communities and even military bases in the UK.
The headline shocker? AI is now a full‑time power‑player. According to McCallum, AI can help extremist groups create tailored propaganda, bots, drones and even far‑fetched bioweapons ideas.
To fight back, MI5 has opened an AI Threat Assessment Centre that vets new AI risks against real threats.
He also warned that right‑wing extremism – especially among teenagers – is swelling, with one 13‑year‑old’s radicalised online network being cracked down on that averted a potential attack abroad.
With UK terrorism and state threats now on the same scale, the message is clear: stay informed and keep an eye out for suspicious tech and online chatter.
