More Election Stakes: AI Weapons And North Korean Cybercrime
Jul 8, 2024
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National political, cybersecurity, and national security correspondents discuss the challenges facing the next president, like AI weapons and North Korean cybercrime. They explore AI drones, tech CEOs in defense, and North Korea's cyber tactics. The podcast highlights foreign policy and national security's importance in the upcoming election.
AI-guided drones pose ethical concerns in autonomous target selection.
North Korea's cyber operations fund defense programs through remote IT jobs.
Deep dives
AI Weaponry Development
Companies like Andral are developing drones equipped with artificial intelligence that can autonomously target objects without human intervention. These drones have the capability to make decisions on what to target, such as Russian tanks, without continuous guidance from human operators. While the technology raises concerns about accuracy and potential errors in target identification, the advancement in AI weaponry development signifies a shift towards autonomous military systems that reduce the need for human intervention in combat scenarios.
North Korean Cyber Workforce
North Korea has been leveraging its technical skills to infiltrate remote jobs in IT and web development, generating revenue estimated at around $300 million annually. The country's workforce, dispersed globally but monitored by North Korean officials, is involved in various cyber activities, including hacking, intelligence gathering, and IT services. North Korea's cyber efforts extend beyond traditional scams, contributing to its broader cyber strategy and funding objectives for defense programs.
National Security Implications
The podcast underscores the significant implications of advancements in AI weaponry and North Korea's cyber activities for national security. The lack of established regulations and restraints on AI weapons usage poses challenges in ensuring responsible decision-making and accountability in warfare. With countries like China and Russia also pursuing advanced AI weaponry, the evolving landscape of military technology underscores the urgency for regulatory frameworks and international cooperation to address potential threats and safeguard global security.
Amid a frenetic campaign newscycle, we take a look at some of the very real challenges that the next president will have to tackle during their four-year term including AI-guided weaponry and a complex web of North Korean cybercrime.
This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, cybersecurity correspondent Jenna McClaughlin, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.
The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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