With increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in technology, there is always looming threat of its probable misuse or overuse in the future. To discuss probable threats related to AI and to make the technological space safer, an AI safety summit will be held in the UK next month.

Ahead of the summit, a US think-tank made a concerning revelation. It said that advanced AI-based chatbots could help plan an attack with a biological weapon.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-swallowed-whole-sun-a-lifeless-white-giant-scientists-predict-what-galaxy-will-look-like-in-5bn-years-647990">Earth swallowed whole, sun a lifeless white giant; scientists predict what galaxy will look like in 5bn years</a>

The research was released on Monday by Rand Corporation. The organisation tested several large language models (LLMs) and found they could supply guidance to “assist in the planning and execution of a biological attack.”

<h2>Role of AI in biological attack planning</h2>

The report said that previous attempts made to weaponise biological agents had failed because of a lack of understanding of the bacterium. AI could bridge this knowledge gap that will eventually help in the planning of bio warfare.&nbsp;

In July, Dario Amodei, the CEO of the AI firm Anthropic, warned that AI systems could help create bioweapons in two to three years’ time.

<h2>How AI-based chatbots can be used in bio warfare?</h2>

The AI-based chatbots are based on LLMs, which are trained on vast amounts of data taken from the internet. This data is the core technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT. Researchers at Rand Corporation said that they had accessed the models through an application programming interface, API.&nbsp;

In one test scenario devised by Rand, the anonymised LLM identified potential biological agents, including those that cause smallpox, anthrax and plague, and discussed their relative chances of causing mass death.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-aims-to-send-astronaut-to-moon-by-2040-centre-648000">India aims to send astronaut to Moon by 2040: PM Modi</a>

The LLM also assessed the possibility of obtaining plague-infested rodents or fleas and transporting live specimens. It then went on to mention that the scale of projected deaths depended on factors such as the size of the affected population and the proportion of cases of pneumonic plague, which is deadlier than bubonic plague.

The Rand researchers admitted that extracting this information from an LLM required “jailbreaking” – the term for using text prompts that override a chatbot’s safety restrictions.

<h2>Is it a real threat?</h2>

The researchers said that though their preliminary results indicated that LLMs could “potentially assist in planning a biological attack”, the final report concluded that AI simply mirrored information already available online.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/weakening-of-gulf-stream-99-per-cent-ramifications-to-be-global-study-648008">Weakening of Gulf stream 99 per cent, ramifications to be global: study</a>

“It it remains an open question whether the capabilities of existing LLMs represent a new level of threat beyond the harmful information that is readily available online,” said the researchers.

However, the Rand researchers said the need for rigorous testing of models was “unequivocal”.

(With inputs from agencies)

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With increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in technology, there is always looming threat of its probable misuse or overuse in the future. To discuss probable threats related to AI and to make the technological space safer, an AI safety summit will be held in the UK next month.

With increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in technology, there is always looming threat of its probable misuse or overuse in the future. To discuss probable threats related to AI and to make the technological space safer, an AI safety summit will be held in the UK next month. Ahead of the summit, a US think-tank made a concerning revelation. It said that advanced AI-based chatbots could help plan an attack with a biological weapon. Also Read | Earth swallowed whole, sun a lifeless white giant; scientists predict what galaxy will look like in 5bn years The research was released on Monday by Rand Corporation. The organisation tested several large language models (LLMs) and found they could supply guidance to “assist in the planning and execution of a biological attack.” Role of AI in biological attack planning The report said that previous attempts made to weaponise biological agents had failed because of a lack of understanding of the bacterium. AI could bridge this knowledge gap that will eventually help in the planning of bio warfare. In July, Dario Amodei, the CEO of the AI firm Anthropic, warned that AI systems could help create bioweapons in two to three years’ time. How AI-based chatbots can be used in bio warfare? The AI-based chatbots are based on LLMs, which are trained on vast amounts of data taken from the internet. This data is the core technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT. Researchers at Rand Corporation said that they had accessed the models through an application programming interface, API. In one test scenario devised by Rand, the anonymised LLM identified potential biological agents, including those that cause smallpox, anthrax and plague, and discussed their relative chances of causing mass death. Also Read | India aims to send astronaut to Moon by 2040: PM Modi The LLM also assessed the possibility of obtaining plague-infested rodents or fleas and transporting live specimens. It then went on to mention that the scale of projected deaths depended on factors such as the size of the affected population and the proportion of cases of pneumonic plague, which is deadlier than bubonic plague. The Rand researchers admitted that extracting this information from an LLM required “jailbreaking” – the term for using text prompts that override a chatbot’s safety restrictions. Is it a real threat? The researchers said that though their preliminary results indicated that LLMs could “potentially assist in planning a biological attack”, the final report concluded that AI simply mirrored information already available online. Also Read | Weakening of Gulf stream 99 per cent, ramifications to be global: study “It it remains an open question whether the capabilities of existing LLMs represent a new level of threat beyond the harmful information that is readily available online,” said the researchers. However, the Rand researchers said the need for rigorous testing of models was “unequivocal”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

AI-based chatbots could help plan bioweapon attacks: Report

With each development in the field of AI fears regarding the dangers of the potential of artificial intelligence seem to be on the rise. Many government agencies and Tech Giants are in the process of regulating and safeguarding AI and now the US senators were alarmed about artificial intelligence potential used to create a biological weapon.

Is Artificial Intelligence a threat?

A researcher from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chao Shao, has made claims about the origins of the coronavirus and has linked them to plans for developing a highly contagious virus as a bioweapon.

In an exclusive interview&nbsp;with Jennifer Zeng, a member of the International Press Association, who provides first-hand information and unique insights about China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the researcher Chao Shao revealed that his colleagues were given four variants of the virus to determine which one would spread most effectively, the ANI report said.&nbsp;He referred to the coronavirus as a "bioweapon."

Chao Shao shared an anecdote about his colleague, Shan Chao, who confessed that their superior provided them with four <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/fraudsters-make-off-with-200-billion-from-covid-relief-programs-says-us-watchdog-609559">coronavirus</a> strains for testing. Their task was to identify the strain with the greatest ability to infect various species, including humans. These revelations highlight the alleged intention to create a highly contagious virus.

<h2>Suspicious activities during the 2019 military world games</h2>

During the 2019 Military World Games held in Wuhan, several of Chao Shao's colleagues mysteriously disappeared. It was later revealed that they were sent to hotels accommodating athletes from different countries to "check the health or hygiene conditions." Chao Shao became suspicious, as such tasks did not require virologists. He suspected their involvement in spreading the virus intentionally.

Also watch |&nbsp;&nbsp;WHO warns Covid 'has not gone away'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/who-warns-covid-has-not-gone-away-609442/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Unusual assignments in Xinjiang</h2>

Chao Shao disclosed another concerning assignment in April 2020 when he was sent to Xinjiang to assess the health status of Uyghurs detained in re-education camps. Expressing scepticism, he questioned the need for a virologist to conduct health checks, suggesting alternative motives. His implication raises suspicions of either virus dissemination or observation of its impact on humans.

Chao Shao's revelations spanned from March to April 2020, providing a glimpse into the broader picture surrounding the origins of coronavirus. These startling claims shed light on potential activities that could have contributed to the pandemic's outbreak.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-chinese-scientist-says-dont-rule-out-covid-lab-leak-theory-598433">Top Chinese scientist says don't rule out Covid lab leak theory</a>

<h2>US intelligence unable to confirm lab-related infections</h2>

A recently released declassified report from US intelligence agencies failed to definitively confirm whether researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, who fell ill in 2019, were infected with the COVID-19 causing coronavirus. The report also mentioned research conducted by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/prominent-chinese-financial-journalist-banned-from-social-media-for-speaking-about-economic-woes-unemployment-609275">Chinese</a> People's Liberation Army at the lab, but it did not establish a direct link between their work and the pandemic.

The release of the intelligence report does little to settle the contentious debate surrounding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. With partisan clashes and ongoing investigations, the question of how the pandemic started remains a topic of heated discussion. Chao Shao's claims, while significant, require further scrutiny and investigation to establish the full truth about the origins and intentions behind the virus's creation.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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A researcher from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chao Shao, has made claims about the origins of the coronavirus and has linked them to plans for developing a highly contagious virus as a bioweapon.

A researcher from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chao Shao, has made claims about the origins of the coronavirus and has linked them to plans for developing a highly contagious virus as a bioweapon. In an exclusive interview with Jennifer Zeng, a member of the International Press Association, who provides first-hand information and unique insights about China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the researcher Chao Shao revealed that his colleagues were given four variants of the virus to determine which one would spread most effectively, the ANI report said. He referred to the coronavirus as a "bioweapon." Chao Shao shared an anecdote about his colleague, Shan Chao, who confessed that their superior provided them with four coronavirus strains for testing. Their task was to identify the strain with the greatest ability to infect various species, including humans. These revelations highlight the alleged intention to create a highly contagious virus. Suspicious activities during the 2019 military world games During the 2019 Military World Games held in Wuhan, several of Chao Shao's colleagues mysteriously disappeared. It was later revealed that they were sent to hotels accommodating athletes from different countries to "check the health or hygiene conditions." Chao Shao became suspicious, as such tasks did not require virologists. He suspected their involvement in spreading the virus intentionally. Also watch | WHO warns Covid 'has not gone away' Unusual assignments in Xinjiang Chao Shao disclosed another concerning assignment in April 2020 when he was sent to Xinjiang to assess the health status of Uyghurs detained in re-education camps. Expressing scepticism, he questioned the need for a virologist to conduct health checks, suggesting alternative motives. His implication raises suspicions of either virus dissemination or observation of its impact on humans. Chao Shao's revelations spanned from March to April 2020, providing a glimpse into the broader picture surrounding the origins of coronavirus. These startling claims shed light on potential activities that could have contributed to the pandemic's outbreak. Also read | Top Chinese scientist says don't rule out Covid lab leak theory US intelligence unable to confirm lab-related infections A recently released declassified report from US intelligence agencies failed to definitively confirm whether researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, who fell ill in 2019, were infected with the COVID-19 causing coronavirus. The report also mentioned research conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army at the lab, but it did not establish a direct link between their work and the pandemic. The release of the intelligence report does little to settle the contentious debate surrounding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. With partisan clashes and ongoing investigations, the question of how the pandemic started remains a topic of heated discussion. Chao Shao's claims, while significant, require further scrutiny and investigation to establish the full truth about the origins and intentions behind the virus's creation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

COVID-19 was engineered as ‘bioweapon’ to purposely infect people, claims Wuhan researcher

Russia considered using monkeypox as a bioweapon until at least till the 1990s, a former Soviet scientist has claimed, reports British tabloid The Metro.

The claims were made by Kanat Alibekov, also known as Kenneth Alibek, who was the Soviet Union's bioweapons expert until its fall in 1991. Later, he stayed in Russia for a year before moving to the US.

In a recently discovered 1998 interview with the American Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project (CBWNP), Alibekov, who allegedly oversaw 32,000 employees over 40 facilities, claimed that the Soviet country had a programme to utilise viruses as weapons.

“So, we developed a special program to determine what ‘model’ viruses could be used instead of human smallpox. We tested vaccinia virus, mousepox virus, rabbitpox virus, and monkeypox virus as models for smallpox.”

“The idea was that all research and development work would be conducted using these model viruses. Once we obtained a set of positive results, it would take just two weeks to conduct the same manipulations with the smallpox virus and to stockpile the warfare agent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rare-monkeypox-outbreaks-from-us-to-spain-list-of-countries-where-cases-are-detected-recently-480319">Rare monkeypox outbreaks: From US to Spain, list of countries where cases are detected recentl</a>

“We would have in our arsenal a genetically altered smallpox virus that could replace the previous one.”

Watch |&nbsp;Monkeypox outbreak in Europe: Spain and Portugal detect more than 40 cases

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/monkeypox-outbreak-in-europe-spain-and-portugal-detect-more-than-40-cases-480554/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The scientist further claimed that after the end of the USSR, the successor Russia’s defence ministry continued working with monkeypox to “create future biological weapons”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monkeypox-cases-reported-in-germany-france-belgium-480769">Monkeypox cases reported in Germany, France, Belgium, Canada</a>

The same year, he was brought before a United States Congress hearing, where he said he was&nbsp;"convinced that Russia’s biological weapons program has not been completely dismantled”.

Monkeypox was first identified in the 1950s when two outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys used for research purposes, with the first human case reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The illness is often likened to a milder form of smallpox, a disease that has been eradicated globally through widespread vaccination against the smallpox virus.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia considered using monkeypox as a bioweapon until at least till the 1990s, a former Soviet scientist has claimed, reports British tabloid The Metro. The claims were made by Kanat Alibekov, also known as Kenneth Alibek, who was the Soviet Union's bioweapons expert until its fall in 1991.

Russia considered using monkeypox as a bioweapon until at least till the 1990s, a former Soviet scientist has claimed, reports British tabloid The Metro. The claims were made by Kanat Alibekov, also known as Kenneth Alibek, who was the Soviet Union's bioweapons expert until its fall in 1991. Later, he stayed in Russia for a year before moving to the US. In a recently discovered 1998 interview with the American Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project (CBWNP), Alibekov, who allegedly oversaw 32,000 employees over 40 facilities, claimed that the Soviet country had a programme to utilise viruses as weapons. “So, we developed a special program to determine what ‘model’ viruses could be used instead of human smallpox. We tested vaccinia virus, mousepox virus, rabbitpox virus, and monkeypox virus as models for smallpox.” “The idea was that all research and development work would be conducted using these model viruses. Once we obtained a set of positive results, it would take just two weeks to conduct the same manipulations with the smallpox virus and to stockpile the warfare agent. Also read | Rare monkeypox outbreaks: From US to Spain, list of countries where cases are detected recentl “We would have in our arsenal a genetically altered smallpox virus that could replace the previous one.” Watch | Monkeypox outbreak in Europe: Spain and Portugal detect more than 40 cases The scientist further claimed that after the end of the USSR, the successor Russia’s defence ministry continued working with monkeypox to “create future biological weapons”. Also read | Monkeypox cases reported in Germany, France, Belgium, Canada The same year, he was brought before a United States Congress hearing, where he said he was "convinced that Russia’s biological weapons program has not been completely dismantled”. Monkeypox was first identified in the 1950s when two outbreaks occurred in colonies of monkeys used for research purposes, with the first human case reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The illness is often likened to a milder form of smallpox, a disease that has been eradicated globally through widespread vaccination against the smallpox virus. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia was planning to use monkeypox as bioweapon, claims ex-Soviet scientist

As demands for transparency from China grow, Beijing is blaming everyone else for the pandemic. A Chinese scientist suggested that the virus could be a bioweapon from US. While the Chinese press is painting Europe as the original epicentre. Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: China blames everyone but itself for the pandemic

2020 was not just the year of pandemic, it was also an infodemic, which mainstreamed conspiracy theories.

It amplified hard-to-digest narratives. With the new year, we thought we had left all this behind. But, just like the virus, the conspiracy theories are back too.

The person to set the conspiracy ball rolling this year is the Brazil&nbsp;President&nbsp;Jair Bolsonaro. Throughout 2020, downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 virus, he refused to wear a mask in public, rejected calls for a lockdown, questioned the efficacy of vaccines and advised his supporters to do the same.

The result of this today&nbsp;is that Brazil, a country with just a quarter of India’s population, is the third-worst Covid-hit country in the world. Brazil now has more than 14 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths to date.

Over Brazil’s current state of affairs, Bolsonaro faces a criminal investigation and a possible impeachment. With this, the Brazilian president has suddenly come to the realisation that this virus, i.e.&nbsp;coronavirus, is in fact quite lethal, and according to him can very well be part of a biological war.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-brazils-president-calls-covid-19-biological-warfare-383340/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“It's a new virus, nobody knows if it was born in a lab or because a human ate some animal they shouldn't have. But it is there. And the military knows all about this chemical, biological and radiological warfare. Could we be fighting a new war? I guess. Which country's GDP has grown the most? I am not going to tell you,” said Bolsonaro.

There have been similar conspiracy theories earlier as well. Theories that this virus is not natural and was made in a lab, or that it is a bio-weapon or that 5G can be used to spread this virus.

While entertaining, these theories remain to be merely theories. According to scientists, there is no evidence to back these claims. While trying to counter scientists, some theories claim that thanks to China’s control on the flow of information, maybe these scientists just haven’t come across the evidence yet. 
 
Scientists addressing the lab and biowarfare theory say that if the virus was indeed engineered, there would have been the evidence of any additions or deletions in the virus’s original genetic code or DNA.

Last year, at the onset of this pandemic, there were numerous reports on supposedly how the virus escaped from The Wuhan Institute of Virology. To address these rumours and to probe the origins of COVID-19, a team from WHO travelled to China but were unable to find any proof backing these claims.

Was this because they didn’t get there in time? &nbsp;The team went to China in January this year, more than 13 months after the first case of coronavirus was reported. Instead of answering some of the long-standing questions, this team by WHO came back with more questions. According to them, while the institute at Wuhan had many strains of coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, which has at times been referred to as “Wuhan Virus,” is not among them.

However on March 31, calling for a deeper probe into the lab theory, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that he does not believe his team's assessment of the lab leak possibility was extensive enough.

It’s been a month since Dr Tedros’s statement, and WHO is still evaluating how to move forward with its probe.

Now, President Bolsonaro can do two things; either ask his military to show the world whatever proof they have to support his claims, or wait for WHO to once again travel to China, and conduct another probe.

But whether this would solve the mystery or not, remains doubtful.

2020 was not just the year of pandemic, it was also an infodemic, which mainstreamed conspiracy theories. It amplified hard-to-digest narratives. With the new year, we thought we had left all this behind.

2020 was not just the year of pandemic, it was also an infodemic, which mainstreamed conspiracy theories. It amplified hard-to-digest narratives. With the new year, we thought we had left all this behind. But, just like the virus, the conspiracy theories are back too. The person to set the conspiracy ball rolling this year is the Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro. Throughout 2020, downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 virus, he refused to wear a mask in public, rejected calls for a lockdown, questioned the efficacy of vaccines and advised his supporters to do the same. The result of this today is that Brazil, a country with just a quarter of India’s population, is the third-worst Covid-hit country in the world. Brazil now has more than 14 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths to date. Over Brazil’s current state of affairs, Bolsonaro faces a criminal investigation and a possible impeachment. With this, the Brazilian president has suddenly come to the realisation that this virus, i.e. coronavirus, is in fact quite lethal, and according to him can very well be part of a biological war. “It's a new virus, nobody knows if it was born in a lab or because a human ate some animal they shouldn't have. But it is there. And the military knows all about this chemical, biological and radiological warfare. Could we be fighting a new war? I guess. Which country's GDP has grown the most? I am not going to tell you,” said Bolsonaro. There have been similar conspiracy theories earlier as well. Theories that this virus is not natural and was made in a lab, or that it is a bio-weapon or that 5G can be used to spread this virus. While entertaining, these theories remain to be merely theories. According to scientists, there is no evidence to back these claims. While trying to counter scientists, some theories claim that thanks to China’s control on the flow of information, maybe these scientists just haven’t come across the evidence yet. Scientists addressing the lab and biowarfare theory say that if the virus was indeed engineered, there would have been the evidence of any additions or deletions in the virus’s original genetic code or DNA. Last year, at the onset of this pandemic, there were numerous reports on supposedly how the virus escaped from The Wuhan Institute of Virology. To address these rumours and to probe the origins of COVID-19, a team from WHO travelled to China but were unable to find any proof backing these claims. Was this because they didn’t get there in time? The team went to China in January this year, more than 13 months after the first case of coronavirus was reported. Instead of answering some of the long-standing questions, this team by WHO came back with more questions. According to them, while the institute at Wuhan had many strains of coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, which has at times been referred to as “Wuhan Virus,” is not among them. However on March 31, calling for a deeper probe into the lab theory, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that he does not believe his team's assessment of the lab leak possibility was extensive enough. It’s been a month since Dr Tedros’s statement, and WHO is still evaluating how to move forward with its probe. Now, President Bolsonaro can do two things; either ask his military to show the world whatever proof they have to support his claims, or wait for WHO to once again travel to China, and conduct another probe. But whether this would solve the mystery or not, remains doubtful.

Faced with the possibility of impeachment, Brazil President calls COVID-19 a bio-weapon

Watch the report to know, Can bioweapons actually be used? Was Coronavirus actually manufactured in the lab as a bioweapon?

Was Coronavirus actually manufactured in the lab as a bioweapon?

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