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Title: Anthropic Says It Blocked Possible Efforts to Build Biological Weapons

Link: https://slashdot.org/story/26/09/10/2138203/a...

Anthropic says it has disrupted several cases this year in which scientists
used Claude for biological research that could potentially aid bioweapons
development. "In a report describing misuses of its A.I. models, Anthropic
said it could not determine whether the research served a legitimate or
nefarious purpose because valid biological inquiry -- the kind that can lead
to breakthroughs like vaccines -- can also help engineer dangerous
pathogens," reports The New York Times. "In the face of that uncertainty,
Anthropic said it erred on the side of caution because the consequences of
missing malicious activity could be severe." From the report: The potential
for cutting-edge A.I. models to facilitate the development of known or
entirely new biological pathogens is among the gravest concerns experts have
about a technology that is developing so rapidly that even its leading
architects doubt whether humans will be able to fully control it. Andrew
Weber, a senior fellow on the Council on Strategic Risks who reviewed
Anthropic's report before its release, said the findings were "chilling
examples of state-sponsored biological weapons developers tapping into the
rapidly advancing capabilities" of leading A.I. models. The lengthy report
Anthropic published on Thursday cataloged a litany of misuses of its A.I.
models, including the chatbot Claude, over the past eight months. Some
examples were similar to past disclosures from Anthropic and other A.I. labs,
including suspected Chinese and Iranian government-linked actors targeting
dissident and diaspora communities for surveillance. The report also
highlighted cases of Russian state media using Claude to generate online
propaganda masquerading as independent reporting, including fabricated claims
about an election in Moldova. Anthropic documented another genre of abuse it
said was new: attempts to use Claude to develop software for conventional
weapons design and development, including firearms, missiles, armed drones
and bombs. It detailed three cases in China, two in Russia and one in Yemen.
The report does not identify by name which parties were involved in the
Yemeni case, but the context makes clear that it is referring to the Iran-
backed Houthi militia.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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