Chatbots powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming more advanced and have rapidly expanding capabilities. This has sparked worries that they might be used for bad things like plotting bioweapon attacks.
According to a recent RAND Corporation paper, AI chatbots could offer direction to help organize and carry out a biological assault. The paper examined a number of large language models (LLMs), a class of AI chatbots, and discovered that they were able to produce data about prospective biological agents, delivery strategies, and targets.
The LLMs could also offer guidance on how to minimize detection and enhance the impact of an attack. To distribute a biological pathogen, for instance, one LLM recommended utilizing aerosol devices, as this would be the most efficient method.
The authors of the paper issued a warning that the use of AI chatbots could facilitate the planning and execution of bioweapon attacks by individuals or groups. They also mentioned that the LLMs they examined were still in the early stages of development and that their capabilities would probably advance with time.
Another recent story from the technology news website TechRound cautioned that AI chatbots may be used to make 'designer bioweapons.' According to the study, AI chatbots might be used to identify and alter current biological agents or to conceive whole new ones.
The research also mentioned how tailored bioweapons that are directed at particular people or groups may be created using AI chatbots. This is so that AI chatbots can learn about different people's weaknesses by being educated on vast volumes of data, including genetic data.
The potential for AI chatbots to be used for bioweapon planning is a serious concern. It is important to develop safeguards to prevent this from happening. One way to do this is to develop ethical guidelines for the development and use of AI chatbots. Another way to do this is to develop technical safeguards that can detect and prevent AI chatbots from being used for malicious purposes.
