Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has issued a stark warning about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence by hostile nations and terrorist organizations, describing certain scenarios as presenting an “extreme risk” to global security. Speaking at the AI summit in Paris this week, Schmidt specifically highlighted concerns about North Korea, Iran, and Russia potentially weaponizing AI technology for malicious purposes, including biological attacks.
Schmidt, who led Google as CEO for a decade until 2011, drew parallels to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, invoking what he called the “Osama bin Laden scenario” where a malicious actor could exploit modern technology to harm innocent people. “This technology is fast enough for them to adopt that they could misuse it and do real harm,” Schmidt told BBC News, emphasizing the speed at which AI capabilities could be weaponized.
Despite his concerns about overregulation, Schmidt advocated for government oversight of AI development, stating “It’s really important that governments understand what we’re doing and keep their eye on us” when referring to private sector firms developing AI technology. He expressed support for the Biden administration’s restrictions on AI-powering microchip sales to countries deemed potential threats, with only 18 nations currently approved for unrestricted access.
This isn’t Schmidt’s first public warning about AI dangers. In December, he emphasized the need for meaningful human control over AI-powered military drones. Notably, his own startup, White Stork, is developing drones for Ukraine to use in its ongoing conflict with Russia, highlighting the complex intersection of AI development and military applications.
At the Paris summit, Schmidt also addressed China’s growing dominance in AI technology, particularly following Chinese firm DeepSeek’s January release of an AI model developed at significantly lower cost than American competitors like ChatGPT. The DeepSeek R1 launch roiled stock markets and demonstrated China’s increasing competitiveness in the AI race. Schmidt urged Western nations to invest heavily in open-source AI models to maintain technological parity, warning that “China will ultimately become the open-source leader and the rest of the world will become closed-source” without significant investment.
Schmidt’s net worth stands at $35.7 billion, ranking him 48th on the Bloomberg rich list, primarily derived from his 1% stake in Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
Key Quotes
Think about North Korea, or Iran, or even Russia, who have some evil goal. This technology is fast enough for them to adopt that they could misuse it and do real harm.
Eric Schmidt told BBC News at the Paris AI summit, highlighting specific nation-states he believes pose the greatest risk of weaponizing AI technology for malicious purposes, including potential biological attacks.
I always worry about the ‘Osama bin Laden’ scenario, where you have a really evil person who takes over some aspect of our modern life and uses it to harm innocent people.
Schmidt drew parallels to the 9/11 terrorist attacks to illustrate how AI could be exploited by terrorist organizations, emphasizing the catastrophic potential of AI in the wrong hands.
It’s really important that governments understand what we’re doing and keep their eye on us.
Despite previously criticizing European AI regulations as too strict, Schmidt acknowledged the necessity of government oversight of private sector AI development to prevent misuse and ensure safety.
If we don’t do something about that, China will ultimately become the open-source leader and the rest of the world will become closed-source.
Schmidt warned The Financial Times about China’s rising AI capabilities, particularly following DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI model release, urging Western investment in open-source AI to maintain competitive advantage.
Our Take
Schmidt’s warnings carry significant weight given his decade-long leadership of Google and deep understanding of AI’s trajectory. His dual role as both AI safety advocate and military drone developer through White Stork reveals the inherent tension in AI governance—the same technology powering beneficial applications can be weaponized. The DeepSeek disruption he references represents a pivotal moment, demonstrating that AI leadership isn’t guaranteed by massive capital investment alone. Schmidt’s call for government oversight, despite his previous criticism of European regulations, suggests even tech industry veterans recognize that self-regulation is insufficient. His specific focus on biological attacks is particularly prescient, as AI’s ability to accelerate research could enable dangerous actors to design pathogens or circumvent biosecurity measures. The geopolitical dimension—balancing innovation with security while competing with China—will define the next phase of AI development.
Why This Matters
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/eric-schmidt-ai-risks-biological-attacks-rogue-states-2025-2