New York – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, providing businesses and individuals with game-changing capabilities. However, this revolutionary technology is also being exploited by threat actors, highlighting the need for caution as AI’s role in cybersecurity continues to evolve.

According to a new release by World Economic Forum, AI is being used both to bolster cybersecurity defenses and to create more sophisticated methods of attack. The technology has become particularly influential in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity strategies, with advances such as generative AI contributing to both sides of this cyber arms race.

ChatGPT, a generative AI technology with 180 million regular users and 1.4 billion website visits in 2023 alone, illustrates the complexity of this issue. While businesses use ChatGPT to automate tasks and derive data-driven insights, cybercriminals are also utilizing it to create more effective phishing emails, malicious code, and other advanced tactics.

The report details how AI has significantly improved threat detection and analysis. Real-time intelligence algorithms can monitor networks as threats emerge, reducing false positives. However, the same algorithms that provide these defensive capabilities are being manipulated to create new malware, deceptive phishing emails, and to facilitate social engineering tactics.

The concept of AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) has democratized access to advanced AI tools, similar to how Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) made ransomware more accessible. As a result, even less experienced or resource-limited threat actors can launch sophisticated cyberattacks. For instance, Russian-affiliated cybercriminals have already bypassed geo-fencing restrictions to use generative AI platforms for malicious activities.

The rapid development of AI also presents numerous regulatory challenges. These issues often hinge on the ethical considerations of fairness, accountability, and transparency. Existing frameworks struggle to govern the application of AI adequately, raising concerns about potential biases and the need for oversight.

While the promise of AI in enhancing cybersecurity defenses is clear, its exploitation by malicious actors cannot be overlooked. As AI capabilities continue to expand, the race between its defensive and offensive applications will intensify, requiring continued vigilance and strategic planning in cybersecurity efforts.