Government security officials in Britain warn that cyber criminals could use artificial intelligence to raid bank accounts within three to five months. These concerns stem from insiders at the AI Security Institute (AISI), who have noted that advanced Chinese AI models, which lack strict safety guardrails, are becoming readily available. This accessibility is expected to expose small businesses and individuals to increased risk of fraud due to the ease with which hackers can manipulate these systems for malicious purposes.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
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Cyber criminals are just three months away from being able to use AI to steal at will from bank accounts, Government security experts fear.
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experts → see → accounts
The warning comes from Cabinet Office officials who work closely with Britain’s AI Security Institute (AISI), which tests the kit before it is unleashed on the public.
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it → come → public
Insiders at the world-renowned institute have early sight of the most cutting-edge technology - and have warned the Mail on Sunday that Britain faces this ‘nightmare scenario’ in just three to five months.
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Britain → renowne → months
One official told this newspaper that this ‘AI Armageddon’ may become reality sooner than previously thought because Chinese labs favour AI models that do not have strict safety guardrails.
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that → tell → guardrails
Unlike in the West, Chinese tech allows developers to easily strip away safety features which restrict what an AI model can do.
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model → allow → what
These may forbid some words and patterns or produce a standard refusal message - for example, if someone tried to use AI to build a bomb or commit a crime.
uncertain
someone → forbid → crime
Now China is rolling out increasingly advanced models with easily disabled safety features, meaning small businesses and members of the public could be vulnerable to fraudsters much sooner than expected.
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businesses → roll → fraudsters
The official told the MoS: ‘Every Russian and Nigerian hacker will soon get their hands on technology which will be able to break even the most advanced passwords to steal personal financial information, remove company data and commit fraud.’
Cyber criminals are just three months away from being able to use AI to steal at will from bank accounts, Government security experts fear (stock image)
Banks are no longer able to respond adequately to sophisticated technology, the Financial Stability Institute warned this week.
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Institute → tell → technology
They called on financial institutions to bolster their defences to prevent major hacks and protect customers’ cash.
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They → call → cash
In a paper published last Wednesday, they say some technology is now so advanced they may only have hours to stop a hacker from breaking in.
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they → publish → hacker
Ministers are worried by the rate at which the technology is improving, and expect a deluge of sophisticated attacks.
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technology → worry → attacks
The MoS understands Ministers are exploring whether more ‘targeted interventions’ will be needed to address national security risks.
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interventions → understand → risks
In a sign of their concern, they claim this would be ‘proportionate’ without hitting growth and innovation.
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this → claim → growth
Tensions about AI soared this week after leading American AI firm, Anthropic, barred Britain’s safety institute from testing its latest model.
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firm → soar → model
One AI expert said this step shows America now treats AI as ‘state secrets and dangerous weapons’.
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America → say → secrets
This weekend, Anthropic said it had thwarted five attempts this year by people using the model to try to make bioweapons.
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it → say → bioweapons
In a report, the firm said its ‘Claude’ model can help make scientific breakthroughs.
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model → say → breakthroughs
But it warned the same biological research capability could also be used to create dangerous superbugs capable of killing millions.
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capability → warn → millions
It comes as a global debate about AI was triggered by one of the company’s researchers quitting the firm over an ‘out of control’ AI arms race
He issued a stark warning that the big companies are not acting responsibly, and said there is ‘more than a 10 per cent’ chance of the technology killing ‘all humans’ within the next decade.
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technology → come → decade
It has intensified calls to take AI safety more seriously.
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It → intensify → safety
AI safety campaigner Connor Axiotes said: ‘America now doesn’t want us to gain any advantages from their tech - this is bonkers.
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this → say → tech
They obviously don’t trust their closest ally.
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They → trust → ally
‘AI risks have so far not been taken seriously by government.
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risks → take → government
The public want action.
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public → want → action
‘I call on any elected official or civil servant to express clearly and publicly their fears about imminent risks from AI.
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I → call → AI
Do not be remembered as the person who failed to act.’
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who → remember → person
Tory MP Joe Robertson said: ‘AI provides incredible opportunities, but it also presents new threats to our national and economic security.
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it → say → security
But with Andy Burnham scrapping the AI department, you wouldn’t know it.
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you → scrap → it
The new PM should spend less time playing his guitar and more time taking AI seriously.’
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PM → spend → AI
A Government spokesperson said: ‘AI is making some cyber capabilities more accessible, but businesses are not defenceless.
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businesses → say → ?
All firms should be acting urgently to improve their cyber defences, and we have set out the practical steps businesses should take, including adopting Cyber Essentials, following National Cyber Security Centre guidance and managing cyber security at board level.’
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businesses → act → level
