Biological and chemical attacks

Sub-category

Risk Domain

4Malicious Actors & Misuse

4.2Cyberattacks, weapon development or use, and mass harm

Using AI systems to develop cyber weapons (e.g., by coding cheaper, more effective malware), develop new or enhance existing weapons (e.g., Lethal Autonomous Weapons or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives), or use weapons to cause mass harm.

"Growing evidence shows general- purpose AI advances beneficial to science while also lowering some barriers to chemical and biological weapons development for both novices and experts. New language models can generate step- by- step technical instructions for creating pathogens and toxins that surpass plans written by experts with a PhD and surface information that experts struggle to find online, though their practical utility for novices remains uncertain. Other models demonstrate capabilities in engineering enhanced proteins and analysing which candidate pathogens or toxins are most harmful. Experts could potentially use these in developing both more advanced weapons and defensive measures."(p. 79)

Entity— Who or what caused the harm

Human

Due to a decision or action made by humans

AI system

Due to a decision or action made by an AI system

Other

Due to some other reason or is ambiguous

Intent— Whether the harm was intentional or accidental

Intentional

Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal

Unintentional

Due to an unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal