In November 2020, OpenAI’s revolutionary AI language model, ChatGPT, was available to the public. Since then, much for people have been both amazed by its abilities and concerned over the impact these abilities may cause. From a hacker’s perspective, ChatGPT has changed the game, allowing those from all walks of life to fluently communicate in English in order to launch sophisticated phishing campaigns. On top of this, ChatGPT has the capability to generate code, meaning that bad actors may be able to manipulate the AI in order to attack advanced cybersecurity software.
The FBI’s 2021 Internet Crime Report found that phishing is the most common IT threat in the US. In light of this and the growing prevalence of AI-supported phishing scams, it is pertinent that security professionals are equipped with the right kind of tools that can detect and flag the emails that have been generated by the ChatGPT software. Furthermore, it is important that they are continuously trained and re-trained on the latest cybersecurity knowledge so they can identify and combat any AI-backed threats. Developing generative AI models that surpass ChatGPT and are specifically designed for SOCs (Security Operations Centers) is also worth considering.
It is also necessary to take into account the risk of ChatGPT becoming compromised and being used as a platform for propagating dangerous misinformation and political propaganda. This would require government oversight and companies such as OpenAI must be regularly checking their security protocols and enacting minimum-security measures. The Biden administration has already released “A Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights”, however the stakes are higher than ever with the launch of ChatGPT.
OpenAI is a technology company based in San Francisco, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and Wojciech Zaremba. OpenAI develops general artificial intelligence research and technology and is partnered with Microsoft, IBM and more. Sam Altman is the current president of OpenAI and has held several prominent positions within the tech industry, such as his role as Chairman and Chief Executive of Y Combinator.
Overall, the advancement of ChatGPT is both exciting and worrying, highlighting the importance of regulating the use of advanced AI to ensure its use is ethical and secure. Companies such as OpenAI should be trusted to adhere to security standards and cybersecurity professionals must bear the responsibility of continuously training and reequipping their staff. It is hoped that the advancement of ChatGPT will be used towards good and with proper safety measures in place, it can surely flourish in the years to come.
