With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, we are at a decisive crossroads - at this crossroads, policy makers, security professionals, and civil society around the world have the opportunity to transfer the weapon of artificial intelligence from the hands of cyber security attackers to the hands of defenders.
Recently, Google CEO Sandal Pichai stated that although with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, more and more people are concerned that hackers may use artificial intelligence tools to strengthen cybersecurity attacks, in turn, artificial intelligence can also become a weapon in the hands of defenders, helping to strengthen their ability to resist cybersecurity attacks.
Water can carry boats, but it can also capsize them
At last weekend's Munich security conference, the impact of artificial intelligence on network security became one of the key topics of discussion among attendees.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described cyberspace as "a new battlefield" at the Munich security conference and stated, "With the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, the technology arms race has taken another step forward."
Google CEO Pichai stated that artificial intelligence tools can help governments and companies accelerate the detection and response to threats from hostile actors.
"We are right to be concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on cybersecurity. However, I believe that in reality, contrary to intuition, artificial intelligence has strengthened our defense against cybersecurity," Pichai told delegates at the Munich Security Conference.
AI will help defend against cyber attacks
As malicious actors increasingly use cybersecurity attacks as a means of exercising power and extorting money, the number and complexity of cybersecurity attacks have been increasing.
According to data from cybersecurity Ventures, a network research company, the estimated losses caused by cyber attacks to the global economy in 2023 were $8 trillion, and by 2025, this number will rise to $10.5 trillion.
In January of this year, the UK's National Cybersecurity Centre released a report stating that artificial intelligence will exacerbate the threat of cyber attacks, lower the entry threshold for cyber hackers, and make more malicious network activities, including ransomware attacks, possible.
However, Pichai stated that artificial intelligence has also shortened the time it takes for defenders to detect attacks and respond.
He stated that artificial intelligence will reduce the so-called "defender's dilemma", where network hackers only need to succeed once in multiple intrusions when invading a system, while defenders must successfully defend each time to protect the system.
He also pointed out that:
"Artificial intelligence can help people defend because you have a tool that can have a massive impact on it, to counter those who are trying to use it. So, in some ways, we are winning this competition."
Google announced a new plan last week to provide artificial intelligence tools and infrastructure investments aimed at improving cybersecurity. The company has also released a free open-source tool called "Magika" aimed at helping users detect malware. Pichai said that these tools have been used in the company's products, such as Google Chrome and Gmail, as well as in the company's internal systems.