Protecting Your Personal Data Online: The Growing AI Arms Race in Cybersecurity, US

IBM’s recent survey revealed that 84% of corporate executives prioritize generative AI security solutions over conventional ones to enhance cybersecurity. As the use of generative AI models grows, companies are embracing these tools to outpace cyber attackers utilizing similar technologies. However, experts warn that additional effort is necessary to safeguard the data and algorithms behind these AI models to prevent them from falling victim to cyberattacks. Top lawmakers also express concerns about the potential dangers AI poses to cybersecurity. For instance, generative models can assist programmers in identifying coding errors and safer coding practices, but they can equally aid malicious actors. To address these concerns, the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has launched a competition to design AI-based tools that can automatically defend software from attacks. Consequently, companies like IBM and Darktrace are leveraging generative AI models to detect deviations, aid investigations, and enhance threat detection and response capabilities. Nevertheless, security experts must prioritize protecting these models themselves to prevent attacks on their underlying data. The use of generative AI in cybersecurity can alleviate the chronic issues faced by security experts, such as burnout from constant vigilance and repetitive tasks. However, as defenders adopt these tools, attackers are also racing to leverage them, leading to a constant battle in the realm of cybersecurity.