UK AI minister warns a major cyber breach is 'likely'

AI minister Kanishka Narayan told the BBC it is 'likely' UK cyber defences will be breached by a major attack, saying it is 'not a matter of if, but when,' as AI makes attacks cheaper and faster for hostile states.

Why it matters: The warning formalises Britain's new cyber posture after a string of high-profile breaches, and sets up a policy answer with 18.5 million pounds in new AI cyber-defence funding expected on Monday.

Data as of Monday, October 12, 2026; the BBC article was opened and read in full via live-browser extraction. The warning is the AI minister's own statement to the BBC; the incident list and funding announcement are the BBC's reporting.

AI minister Kanishka Narayan told the BBC it was “likely” that UK cyber defences would be breached by a major attack despite the government’s National Cyber Strategy, saying it is “not a matter of if, but when.” He attributed the heightened risk to AI making cyberattacks cheaper, faster and more effective for malicious actors and hostile states, including Russia.

The warning follows a string of cyber incidents in recent months affecting M&S, Jaguar Land Rover, the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Aid Agency and Heathrow, some reportedly linked to ransomware groups and teenagers from the Scattered Spider collective. Cyber minister Liz Lloyd is expected to announce 18.5 million pounds in funding for AI cyber defences on Monday.

UK AI minister warns a major cyber breach is 'likely'

Sources