American companies like Google , Microsoft , and OpenAI are currently driving the cutting edge of generative artificial intelligence development across the globe.
However two of U.S.'s top national security leaders said that AI lead is under attack from foreign cybercriminals and nation-states like China.
"Eighteen of the 20 most successful AI companies in the world are American," FBI Director Christopher Wray told CNBC's Morgan Brennan during a CNBC CEO Council virtual roundtable on Tuesday.
"Generative AI, in the world of cyberattacks, is what I would describe as taking kind of junior varsity athletes and making them varsity," Wray said.
But while much of the discussion around AI in the cybersecurity space has centered on how AI is enhancing both attackers and defenders, Wray said the FBI is also focused on "defending American AI [research and development], American innovation in AI."
Persons:
Christopher Wray, CNBC's Morgan Brennan, Wray, General Paul Nakasone, Nakasone
Organizations:
Google, Microsoft, CNBC, Cyber Command, National Security Agency, Central Security Service
Locations:
China, U.S