In a bold move to fortify online security, Alphabet Inc.’s Google, symbolized by NASDAQ tickers GOOG and GOOGL, has unveiled plans to offer free artificial intelligence tools to combat the escalating use of AI in cybercrime and cybersecurity.
Groundbreaking Stand: Google has announced the introduction of an open-source AI-powered tool, which employs file type identification to detect malware. This tool, currently safeguarding products like Gmail and Google Drive, will be available for free, as reported by Bloomberg.
Furthermore, Google will present a white paper at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, elucidating its utilization of AI for cyber defense. The paper will advocate advanced AI research and propose regulations for autonomous cyber defenses.
The Broader Picture: The initiatives come amid a surge of AI integration by hackers into their cyber operations.
Microsoft Corporation released a report this week, highlighting the use of advanced language models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, by state-sponsored criminal groups to enhance their tactics and address technical challenges.
Significant Implication: The growing use of AI in cybercrime has become a critical concern. Experts have flagged the potential for AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to accelerate and validate cybercriminal activity.
There have been instances of hackers leveraging Bing’s AI chatbot to deceive users into divulging personal information. Consequently, there have been fervent calls for stringent AI regulations to mitigate potential risks.
However, AI has also played a pivotal role in identifying and thwarting hackers targeting critical infrastructure. U.S. intelligence agencies have increasingly turned to AI to trace cyber intrusions, particularly those from Chinese hackers.