Georgia warns: AI now weaponized in cyberwarfare against nation

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) has, for the first time, formally identified artificial intelligence (AI) as a component of hybrid threats targeting the country.

In its latest report, cited by Georgian media, the SSG warns that AI is no longer merely a technological achievement but has become a strategic instrument used by powerful nations and regional blocs to gain political, economic, military, and technological advantages, as well as to extend influence over other countries.

“Recent developments in artificial intelligence and global competition in this area clearly demonstrate that AI has become one of the tools through which various leading states and regional unions seek to achieve leverage over others,” the report states, per Caliber.Az.

According to the SSG, AI has the potential to become a destructive force when misused. It can be exploited to provoke political and economic crises, incite ethnic and religious tensions, spread disinformation, and foster false expectations within a population.

The report highlights a specific incident in which falsified recordings were allegedly planned for release under the guise of leaked material from the State Security Service. The goal, according to the SSG, was to discredit the agency and fabricate a conflict between branches of government.

“The primary objective of this provocation was to artificially create and inflame public unrest, spark instability within the country, and ultimately use the resulting chaos for political gain,” the document says.

The SSG also warned that in the process of AI model training, certain countries may deliberately embed falsified information about Georgia. If such content is later explored or referenced, it could give users a distorted perception of the country.

Additionally, the agency considers AI a promising tool in the hands of foreign intelligence services, particularly for conducting cyberattacks against Georgia’s governmental infrastructure, presenting new challenges for national cybersecurity.

By Tamilla Hasanova