UK MI5 Turns to Startups for Help 

UK MI5 Turns to Startups for Help 

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The UK domestic counter-intelligence and security agency MI5 wants to strengthen its collaboration with the private sector in harnessing artificial intelligence to help combat hostile state and terrorist activity. 

The organization no longer believes it has the in-house talent to develop what it needs in areas such as artificial intelligence and data analysis.

The MI5’s newly appointed director-general, Ken McCallum, has expressed a desire to partner with technology companies to better exploit cutting-edge tech.

The organization wants to use machine learning to extract useful intelligence from vast datasets held by the private sector, according to tech.newstatesman.com.

Since the 9/11 attacks, terrorism has dominated MI5’s agenda, but that threat is now diversifying – with an increase in far-right activity, which the intelligence agency has now begun to monitor. The organization established in 1909 to counter German espionage ahead of World War I, is the agency tasked with protecting British national security.

The UK Treasury has already established a security investment fund so that the UK intelligence agencies can nurture startups developing in-demand tools.