The Center for AI Safety published an open letter in which tech leaders call for artificial intelligence to be treated as a threat on par with pandemics and nuclear war. This has sparked a global discussion about the role of AI in cybersecurity – is it an opportunity or a threat?

AI is constantly learning and improving, drawing data from past and current experiences. This enables it to identify new types of attacks that may occur today or tomorrow. Moreover, through continuous monitoring of patterns and behaviors, it can more effectively detect threats and instantly notify users or administrators.

In short: AI predicts threats based on patterns from past experiences. It also shortens the response time to incidents and helps ensure compliance with best security practices.

An undeniable advantage of AI is that it far surpasses human capabilities in processing and monitoring data, doing so 24/7. This, in turn, translates into time and labor savings for the security team, while also eliminating the human error factor, which in the field of cybersecurity could have catastrophic consequences.

Hackers also use artificial intelligence. They continuously test and improve their software to make it more resistant to AI-based security systems. They leverage this technology to develop more sophisticated attacks, aiming to compromise traditional security systems and even AI-enhanced ones. The result? A malicious email created using AI can more easily find vulnerabilities in security measures and penetrate targeted company structures. It could be more effective than traditional phishing.

There is widespread discussion about how AI can not only pose a threat to businesses but also to society as a whole, potentially even becoming a national security issue. Malicious software can be used in cyberattacks or disinformation campaigns, such as spreading fake news.

Artificial intelligence can enhance security while simultaneously making it easier for cybercriminals to penetrate systems without human intervention. It is a sophisticated tool with the ability to identify and model human behavior, and it continues to evolve and improve. This leads to new and significant threats, some of which we cannot yet predict.

One thing is certain – we need to rethink our approach to cybersecurity. The best strategy is a dual approach, focusing on both constant threat management and the protection of critical infrastructure. If we aim to minimize losses and maintain operations, we strongly recommend utilizing robust defenses against cyberattacks. Only then will we be better equipped to defend ourselves against “intelligent criminals” in the future.