The Foreign Office’s minister with responsibility for tech use has previously pointed to AI’s potential to complete tasks in ‘seconds, rather than days’, but also acknowledges the prospective security challenges

While artificial intelligence will offer transformative benefits to UK diplomatic operations around the world, it will also bring new cybersecurity dangers and intensify existing risks, according to a minister.

Catherine West, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office minister with responsibility for departmental technology, has reiterated previous comments that “AI will transform diplomatic practice”.

The technology – which West earlier this year claimed is already enabling embassies deal with requests from UK citizens in “seconds, rather than days” – will bring ongoing and wider benefits to “FCDO’s delivery, enhancing our diplomatic impact and increasing individual productivity and corporate efficiency”.

But the minister also acknowledged the additional challenges posed by AI, and the need for action to address them.

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“However, [AI] will also create new and enhance existing cybersecurity threats,” she said. “The FCDO is working to ensure that it has appropriate security controls, policies, culture and capabilities to protect our information and our ability to operate and to develop these as the technology and the threat landscape evolves. The FCDO has a dedicated and continuously evolving risk management capability within its Information and Cyber Security function.”

West, whose comments were made in response to a written parliamentary question from fellow Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, added that the FCDO’s adoption of new technology forms part of a broader dedication on the part of the government “to leveraging AI to enhance public services safely and securely”.

Asked specifically by Dhesi about “the potential impact of the use of AI in [the FCDO] on security”,  the minister again pointed to existing guidelines and assurance measures.

“The AI Playbook for the UK government security… includes an assessment of the risks coming from the use of AI,” she said. “The playbook includes worked scenarios for AI use which detail potential impacts for the different types of risk. All AI services must adhere to Secure by Design principles and conduct risk assessments, including Data Protection Impact Assessments. The FCDO is working to ensure that it has appropriate security controls, policies, culture and capabilities to protect our information and our ability to operate and to develop these as the technology and the threat landscape evolves.”