From hype to hack: London Tech Week hears AI warnings as ex-FBI expert flags cyber risks

The conversation around artificial intelligence has come back down to earth at London Tech Week, shifting from grand possibilities to the nuts and bolts of infrastructure, according to Russ Shaw. But as the industry focuses on building the AI of tomorrow, a former FBI expert has sounded the alarm over a darker side: AI-powered hacking. In a BBC Tech Life episode broadcast on 19 May 2026, presenter Chris Vallance spoke to the ex-FBI specialist about the risks emerging from a new generation of AI that could supercharge cyberattacks, alongside the ongoing threat of ransomware gangs holding data hostage. The episode, produced by Tom Quinn, also featured a listener using dermatology tech to teach schoolchildren about sun safety, but the dominant note was one of caution. The warning comes as London Tech Week’s first day saw delegates grapple with the practicalities of AI deployment, a marked shift from earlier years when hype dominated. The juxtaposition raises an unresolved question: as businesses rush to embed AI into their infrastructure, are they leaving the door open for attackers armed with the same technology?