Google CEO says that AI tips the scales in favor of defenders “disproportionately”
AI is a threat and a tool, Google CEO says
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GoogleCEO Sundar Pichai has said that AI could help strengthen cybersecurity against threat actors in a way that significantly benefits the defenders.
WhileAI toolssuch asChatGPThave lowered the bar to launch successful cyber attacks, the services could provide just as much utility to speed up the detection and quarantine of cyber threats.
Speaking at the Munich Security conference, Pichai said, “We are right to be worried about the impact on cybersecurity. But AI, I think actually, counterintuitively, strengthens our defense on cybersecurity.”
Defusing the defender’s dilemma
While many cybersecurity firms have had elements of AI such as machine learning in their products for some time, tools using AI for threat detection and monitoring have been cropping up only recently.
These tools, Pichai points out, can significantly reduce the time taken to identify and stop an attack, therefore reducing the defender’s dilemma. With every year that passescyber attacks get faster and more advanced, and the dilemma suggests that attackers only have to be successful once while defenders must be successful every time.
Earlier at the Munich Security Conference, Google announced that it was launching theirAI Cyber Defense Initiativewhich seeks to boost cyber resilience and skills using training, education and investments in AI research.
A number of tech giants and social media companies also signed avoluntary agreementto develop a shared framework for detecting and labeling AI generated deepfakes that could be used to disrupt electoral processes.
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A joint report fromMicrosoft and OpenAIhighlighted the risks posed by state-backed cyber groups using generative AI and large language models to enhance their ability to launch cyber attacks and spearphishing campaigns.
“AI disproportionately helps the people defending because you’re getting a tool which can impact it at scale versus the people who are trying to exploit. So, in some ways, we are winning the race,” Pichai said.
ViaCNBC
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Benedict has been writing about security issues for over 7 years, first focusing on geopolitics and international relations while at the University of Buckingham. During this time he studied BA Politics with Journalism, for which he received a second-class honours (upper division), then continuing his studies at a postgraduate level, achieving a distinction in MA Security, Intelligence and Diplomacy. Upon joining TechRadar Pro as a Staff Writer, Benedict transitioned his focus towards cybersecurity, exploring state-sponsored threat actors, malware, social engineering, and national security. Benedict is also an expert on B2B security products, including firewalls, antivirus, endpoint security, and password management.
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