Western Intelligence Chiefs Issue Joint Warning on China's AI Theft

Allies Question China's AI Ambitions

In an unprecedented gathering, the heads of the 'Five Eyes' alliance, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, assembled to issue a joint warning about commercial secrets being stolen by China, with technology companies being particularly targeted.
More than 20,000 UK individuals have been covertly approached online by Chinese spies, double the previous figure, according to Ken McCallum, the head of MI5; these primarily targeted individuals are associated with companies and institutions developing cutting-edge technology.
The intelligence chiefs highlighted that the theft is not only from large corporations but increasingly from small companies, start-ups, and researchers, indicating a shift from the historical focus on government secrets to now include private-sector innovation.
China has been accused of using a combination of cyber intrusions, human intelligence operations, corporate investments, and transactions to steal intellectual property; the theft spans several sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, robotics, and automation.
The Five Eyes countries have released 'Five Principles' of secure innovation to help companies protect their intellectual property; these principles center around knowing the threats, securing both the environment and products, and ensuring secure partnerships and growth.