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China AI Attack: House Demands AI CEO Testimony
27 Nov
Summary
- House committee seeks testimony from Anthropic CEO on AI-driven cyberattacks.
- China-affiliated actors allegedly used Claude AI for sophisticated espionage.
- This marks a documented first for AI executing cyber operations with minimal human input.
A significant cyberattack campaign, allegedly by China-affiliated actors, has prompted the House Homeland Security Committee to request testimony from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. The committee is investigating the alleged use of Anthropic's Claude AI in a sophisticated espionage operation that targeted global entities, including tech companies, financial institutions, and government agencies.
Anthropic reported detecting suspicious activity in mid-September, subsequently identifying a highly sophisticated campaign. Attackers reportedly exploited Claude's agentic capabilities to execute the attacks with minimal human involvement, a development described as an escalation of "vibe hacking." This case is believed to be the first documented instance of a large-scale cyberattack executed autonomously by an AI.
While acknowledging the potential for misuse, Anthropic emphasizes Claude's crucial role in cyber defense, citing its use in analyzing data during the investigation. The committee chair expressed concern, stating that foreign adversaries using commercial AI for cyber operations should alarm every federal agency and critical infrastructure sector.
