American AI companies are being targeted by China and cybercriminals, according to FBI Director Wray.

• In the burgeoning fields of AI and generative AI, American corporations such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are taking the lead.
• Foreign cybercriminals and nation-states, including China, are targeting the lead industry with the aim of stealing AI innovations and intellectual property, according to top U.S. security officials.
• Cybersecurity battles are becoming more complex as AI technology is increasingly used by both attackers and defenders, highlighting the importance of securing the industry.

Generative artificial intelligence is being advanced globally by American companies such as , , and OpenAI. Nevertheless, two top U.S. national security leaders have stated that the AI lead is being threatened by foreign cybercriminals and nation-states, including China.

During a virtual roundtable with CNBC's Morgan Brennan, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that 18 out of the 20 most successful AI companies globally are American. He added that foreign adversaries, particularly the Chinese, are actively targeting that innovation and intellectual property.

General Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, joined Wray at the virtual roundtable and stated that generative AI is a "significant amplifier" of the threats already present, as AI tools are helping criminals make their attacks "more sophisticated, more credible, and more pernicious."

Generative AI is currently being used by junior varsity cyberattackers, but soon, varsity adversaries will be able to use it to improve their game.

The FBI is concentrating on safeguarding American AI research and innovation in addition to the widespread debate about how AI is benefiting both attackers and defenders in the cybersecurity field, according to Wray.

The director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service, Nakasone, stated that adversaries of the U.S. are utilizing AI capabilities created by American companies, which makes protecting that intellectual property imperative.

"We want to maintain our lead in artificial intelligence as it is our future and will have a significant impact on our economy, national security, and other areas," Nakasone stated.

The FBI and the U.S. Cyber Command, a departmental command focused on cyberspace, are collaborating on operations against various adversaries, including nation-states such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as criminal groups and other foreign actors.

The National Security Agency established the AI Security Center in September 2023 to oversee the development and integration of AI capabilities within U.S. national security systems, with AI playing a key role in defense, as stated by Nakasone.

Nakasone stated that in order to provide insights on adversaries' techniques for stealing intellectual property, we had to be able to do this. He added that similar efforts in cybersecurity have been successful.

As AI tools become more popular among attackers and adversaries, the best defense strategy will involve partnerships between government agencies, the public and private sectors, and global allies.

Wray stated that the partnership of that kind would surpass the daily contributions of the Chinese.