FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday that AI has helped the bureau prevent about six school shootings since he took office, and that the FBI’s use of AI has increased 605%.
Patel made the remarks on Fox News’ “Saturday in America,” where host Kayleigh McEnany asked him about a March statement in which he said the FBI stopped a school shooting in North Carolina and similar threats in about half a dozen states after AI helped triage a tip.
AI as a ‘Critical Tool‘
“AI, when used lawfully, is a critical tool to triage data,” Patel said, adding the bureau plans to expand partnerships to collect DNA and threat data for field agents. He called the initiative apolitical and said Senate Democrats never raised AI during his Tuesday Judiciary Committee hearing.
Patel separately criticized the committee Democrats, calling their actions “like buffoons,” after lawmakers questioned him about alleged personal use of taxpayer funds, including travel and a hunting retreat. Patel denied any wrongdoing in a July letter to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
Patel also faced a March cyberattack in which an Iran-linked group breached his personal email account and published personal emails, photos and documents.
Industry, Lawmakers Warn of AI Risks
The bureau’s AI expansion comes as tech leaders have urged caution, warning the technology could eventually operate beyond human control. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said last week AI capability growth “must slow” to allow safety safeguards.
Lawmakers have also pushed for greater transparency around AI-related security threats. In June, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has pushed the “Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act,” which would require the federal government to issue regular public reports on how terrorist groups may be exploiting AI tools.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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