AI models that could destabilize governments and major businesses are expected to emerge within months, according to a rare joint statement from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. The warning, issued late Monday night Sydney time, comes from the signals intelligence agencies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Urgent Call for Action
The statement urges world leaders to 'act now' to address the accelerating cyber threats posed by frontier AI. It follows the Trump administration's decision earlier this month to block foreign nationals from using the AI model Fable, developed by Anthropic. The agencies emphasized that AI 'accelerates the speed, scale and sophistication of cyber threats.'
'Frontier AI models are anticipated to exceed current industry expectations, fundamentally transforming both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities,' the warning said. 'The timeline is not years, it is months. In this environment, cyber resilience is integral to advancing business continuity, market confidence, and long-term value.'
Lowering Barriers for Attackers
The cybersecurity agencies noted that advances in AI would lower the barrier for malicious actors and increase the speed and complexity of attacks. 'A whole-of-organisation and whole-of-society response is required,' the statement added. 'Cyber risk can no longer be treated as a purely technical issue. This is a core business risk and leadership responsibility.'
While no specific AI models were named, attention has focused on Anthropic's advanced tools. One of its latest creations, Fable 5, is reportedly capable of detecting vulnerabilities in cyber systems and is restricted to vetted organizations. The US government suspended its use by foreign nationals in June, citing national security advice.
Expert Perspectives
Olivia Shen, an expert in national security and AI at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre, told the Guardian that 'there could be many more powerful AI models not far off on the horizon.' She said, 'I think we have to anticipate that the next Mythos or the next Fable is just around the corner. We can only see what's been released, but there could be other models being developed by the likes of China, or other states and other actors and companies, that are just as advanced.'
