As artificial intelligence reshapes the landscape of national security, the FBI finds itself engaged in a high-stakes technological chess match.
Former FBI agent Erin Gibbs, who served 22 years with the bureau, tells how federal law enforcement is using AI to protect the country while taking ethical considerations into consideration.
“AI is helpful in open-source searching, recognition of photos, and monitoring online platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter,” said Gibbs, who worked in counterintelligence for eleven years and cyber investigations for nine.
The stakes are high. According to the White House, “If misused, AI could threaten United States national security, bolster authoritarianism worldwide, undermine democratic institutions.”
This warning comes as nations like Russia, China and North Korea increasingly deploy AI for disinformation campaigns.
“Russia, China and North Korea have the sophistication and history of spreading propaganda, and they’re no doubt using AI to push misinformation on platforms not doing fact checks,” Gibbs explained.
These threats extend beyond propaganda to include scams. “We call them the business email compromise or the romance scams—typically money-making schemes from Eastern Bloc countries with good technical skills,” said Gibbs.
To combat these threats, the FBI isn’t working alone. “The National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and FBI are likely working together to identify bad actors and trace the sources of misinformation,” Gibbs reveals.
The bureau is also exploring AI applications in recruitment, background checks, and identity verification for transportation security.
However, the FBI’s approach to AI remains measured. “With great power comes great responsibility. Being the good guys, we need to ensure AI is used ethically,” Gibbs emphasized. “We need laws to ensure AI is being used legally and in adherence to the Constitution, particularly in the U.S.”
Gibbs, who joined the FBI in 2002 following a post-9/11 hiring push, saw parallels between AI adoption and previous technological transitions. “We have to grow with the country, much like we had to figure out cell phones and when we went from the postal service to emails.”
As the digital battlefield evolves, the FBI continues to adapt its strategies. “It’s interesting to see how new technology can be used to stop national security threats while tempering that with ethical considerations,” Gibbs concluded, highlighting the delicate balance between using AI’s power and maintaining constitutionality.
