MI-6 Follows CIA, Just 22 Years Late
Why? Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence!
For those of you who are not familiar with MI-6, even via a somewhat romanticized version in James Bond movies, MI-6 is Britain’s spy agency. Working along MI-5 and GCHQ, their goal is to protect Britain from the bad guys. MI-6, similar to our CIA, prefers to stay in the shadows. The agency’s existence wasn’t even formally acknowledged until the 1990s.
However, now they are they are talking very publicly. Richard Moore (AKA “C” in MI-6 speak) talked publicly for the first time since taking over the role of Chief of MI-6. He said that developments in quantum computing and AI are good for society.
Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Moore warned that China, Russia and Iran are a threat to the UK (and the rest of the world), who could exploit technology to meet their aims.
While human intelligence is important (and, I might add, becoming harder by the day because of the digital footprint that every human leaves behind – or if they are a spy, do not leave behind), technology is going to be critical to assessing that intelligence.
He warned that “our adversaries are pouring money and ambition into mastering artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology because they know that mastering these technologies will give them leverage”.
However, “C” admitted that they (the UK) will lose the battle if they try to out-do big tech.
So, they are doing what the CIA started to do in 1999 and have started a venture capital fund called the National Security Strategic Investment Fund. The CIA calls theirs In-Q-Tel. While I don’t know NSSIF, I did pitch In-Q-Tel a few years ago. Some super smart people. Likely also true for NSSIF. Both are looking for smart people with even smarter ideas who need money. Of course, they want to use, partner, or own the tech that these investments produce. “C” said that this is a culture change for the organization that is going to be a sea-change. The CIA seems to have figured out how to do it. Perhaps the two organizations should chat. Or maybe they already are.
Key point is that Quantum computing and AI are going to be critical to national security and, my guess is, China and the others know that too (read my November 25th blog post if you doubt this). If they can’t develop it themselves, there are other alternatives that they seem to be pretty good at also. Credit: ZDNet
Booze Allen says that the Chinese are already planning for the day when powerful quantum computers are running inside their state run intelligence service. Booze says that Chinese hackers might soon start trying to steal encrypted data such as encrypted weapons design data, biometric data and spy agency human asset info, with the hope that, with quantum computing, they will be able to decrypt it in the future.
Booze writes:
“In the 2020s, Chinese economic espionage will likely increasingly steal data that could be used to feed quantum simulations,” the analysts write in the report Chinese Threats in the Quantum Era.
Hackers could steal encrypted data now and crack it with quantum computers later, warn analysts | ZDNet
We either need to protect our tech. Or learn Mandarin.
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