FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said on Wednesday that the FBI is using artificial intelligence tech to help support the agency internally, but also stressed that more technology resources and tools are needed by the bureau to better execute on its mission.
At the Billington CyberSecurity Summit in Washington on Sept. 4, Abbate said that the FBI is using and applying AI “at a relatively basic level at this point,” such as assisting with language translation or triaging data.
“An example of that would be our public tip line,” Abbate explained. “In West Virginia, we have what we call the National Threat Operations Center. That’s the public intake line for anybody reporting a complaint, a tip, a lead for the FBI across everything that we do. And I’ll tell you, we’re getting, on average, about 4,000 calls or emails like that per day. It’s quite a lot to go through.”
“In fact, just this morning … the center in West Virginia who hosts the call line told us that they hit a record level, that there were over 7,000 calls and tips and emails that they received yesterday,” he added. “We only have so many personnel, human beings that are applied to that. So, we’re leveraging technology in AI to help triage and prioritize those incoming complaints so that nothing is missed, especially those that go toward preventing physical harm.”
Abbate said AI could help to prioritize tips to help prevent an active shooter situation or other forms of physical threats and violence. However, he stressed that the FBI is currently operating at a “rudimentary level” with AI, and it is looking towards working with industry partners to help provide additional tools.
Notably, when asked if he had a wish list of what could make things easier for the FBI when it comes to countering cyber threats, Abbate said resources and tools would top that list.
“It comes down to resources. I think we’re accomplishing a lot with the resources that we have. I think that people in the FBI – on their own and amplified by partnerships with every sector that we talked about here – are doing a hell of a lot, and we’re always asked to do more. Nothing comes off the table either.”
“So, when I talk with the teams that do that every day across headquarters here, [and] I often visit the field office just up in Pittsburgh … and they have a phenomenal, very effective cyber squad up there, more resources are needed – both personnel with the right skills and expertise, and then tools, which include technology, software, equipment, and things like that.”
