Read Full Report: Mitigating Risks at the Intersection of AI and Chemical and Biological Weapons by RAND | Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC)
Key Findings
- AI’s Dual-Use Nature: AI has significant potential for both beneficial and nefarious applications in chemistry and biology.
- Threat Landscape Evolution: AI lowers barriers to entry for bad actors, potentially enabling chemical and biological weapons development.
- Regulatory Gaps: Existing AI governance structures struggle to keep up with technological advancements.
- Potential for Misuse: AI models can be exploited to enhance chemical and biological threats through synthetic biology, drug discovery, and automated research.
- Mitigation Strategies: Stronger international cooperation, AI-powered threat detection, and better regulation are necessary to prevent misuse.
Summary
The RAND report explores how artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to develop or enhance chemical and biological threats. AI’s ability to accelerate research, analyze vast data sets, and generate novel biological or chemical compounds makes it both an opportunity and a risk in the security landscape. While AI can assist in disease prevention, biosecurity, and threat detection, it can also be used by bad actors to design highly toxic chemical agents or engineered pathogens.
One notable concern is the reduced barrier to entry, where AI-assisted design tools can guide individuals with limited expertise to create dangerous substances. The research also highlights gaps in regulations and how existing laws struggle to address AI’s potential risks in this domain. The report underscores the importance of international cooperation, AI-driven countermeasures, and policy adaptations to mitigate these emerging threats.