China's spy chief flags AI threat, warns of 'cognitive warfare' & threats to security

China’s ministry of state security has issued its first public warning on the national security risks posed by artificial intelligence, accusing hostile forces of using generative AI to spread political rumours, manipulate public opinion and threaten the country’s critical infrastructure.Minister of state security Chen Yixin said foreign actors were exploiting emerging AI tools to conduct what he described as public opinion and cognitive warfare against China.“Hostile forces and people with ulterior motives are abusing generative AI technologies such as deepfake audio and video, AI-generated text and images, and ‘intelligent troll armies’ to cheaply and on a mass scale fabricate political rumours, disseminate harmful information and incite divisive sentiments,” Chen wrote in an article published online on Sunday.“These activities constitute an attack on public opinion wars and cognitive warfare against China, directly threatening our political security, institutional security and ideological security,” he added.The MISS said AI could also create vulnerabilities for…