Five Eyes intelligence alliance warns of cyber risk from new AI models

The intelligence alliance known as the "Five Eyes" warned that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology could greatly strengthen the ability of hackers to attack computer systems. The warning came in a joint statement issued on Monday, June 22, 2026, by officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The Five Eyes is a long-standing intelligence-sharing partnership among these five English-speaking countries. In their statement, the officials said that the most advanced AI models are expected to change both attacking and defending in cyberspace, and that the timeline for this shift was a matter of months rather than years.

The advice in the statement was mostly about strengthening basic cyber security. It urged organisations to quickly fix faulty software, to avoid putting systems online unless necessary, and to use AI itself for defence, such as spotting weaknesses earlier and responding to attacks faster.

The warning reflected growing concern among governments about powerful new AI tools that could let users carry out complex and damaging hacks. The U.S. cyber defence agency, which also signed the statement, recently shortened the time given to government departments to fix serious security weaknesses in their networks, pointing to AI-related threats.

For exam preparation, this topic is useful for understanding cyber security, the Five Eyes alliance, and the policy challenges that come with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.