While the CIA is yet to reveal specific details about the model underpinning the soon-to-be-launched AI tool and its privacy safeguards, its director assured that the intelligence agency adheres closely to privacy laws in the United States.
The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is preparing to unveil its own artificial intelligence (AI) bot, similar to ChatGPT, for investigative purposes. According to a report by Bloomberg, this innovative AI tool is designed to empower CIA analysts in accessing open-source intelligence, efficiently enabling them to sift through vast amounts of publicly available information to aid ongoing investigations.
The new development comes in response to criticism that the current methods the CIA employs for processing public data are too slow.
CIA to Launch Its AI Investigative Tool Soon
Speaking on the new development, Randy Nixon, the director of the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise, said the agency intends to introduce the AI tool soon. He also highlighted the evolution of intelligence analysis, stating:
“We’ve gone from newspapers and radio to newspapers and television, to newspapers and cable television, to basic internet, to big data, and it just keeps going. We have to find the needles in the needle field.”
At launch, the new AI chatbot is expected to be accessible across the 18 US intelligence community agencies, including the CIA, National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and military-run agencies.
As an investigative AI model, the tool is designed with the ability to reveal the original source of the information being analyzed alongside an integrated chat feature. This chat functionality will enable analysts to engage with the AI, seeking answers and insights from the vast data pool.
“Then you can take it to the next level and start chatting and asking questions of the machines to give you answers, also sourced. Our collection can continue to grow with no limitations other than how much things cost,” said Nixon.
CIA Adheres to US Privacy Laws
While the CIA is yet to reveal specific details about the model underpinning the soon-to-be-launched AI tool and its privacy safeguards, Nixon assured that the intelligence agency adheres closely to privacy laws in the United States.
The introduction of this AI tool aligns with broader efforts across various US government agencies to leverage artificial intelligence for improved functionality and competitive advantage. It also addresses the imperative to keep pace with China’s advancements in AI technology as China aspires to establish global leadership in the AI field by 2030.
On September 12, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Gary Gensler told the US Senate that the regulator uses AI tools to monitor the financial industry for fraud and market manipulation clues.
Before then, Gensler delivered a speech on July 17 in which he commended the use of AI tools, emphasizing that SEC staff could benefit significantly from more extensive utilization of AI in areas including market surveillance, disclosure review, examinations, enforcement, and economic analysis.
However, while the SEC is using the tools for monitoring fraudulent activities in the financial sector, the CIA intends to develop its personal AI for investigative purposes.
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