Mikko Hypponen, Principal Research Officer at WithSecure, said:
D.Digitally connected users are in the midst of an artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and can easily become targets of automated cyberattacks.
Speaking at the ITWeb Security Summit 2023, cyber security specialist and author Mikko Hypponen, Principal Research Officer at WhizSecure, said that all connected smart devices today should be considered vulnerable.
“If it’s programmable, it’s hackable,” Hypponen says.
He said the advent of AI and the widespread use of intelligent chatbot products such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT has sparked a race between humans and bots over who gets artificial general intelligence (AGI) first. It pointed out.
AGI equates to the highest human intelligence, he said, and if bots win, robots can do any intelligent task that humans can do, and they can do it faster and better.
For Hippenen, the human must win to prevent domination and limit control while harnessing the capabilities of AI.
“That’s exactly what OpenAI wants to achieve with its chat system. We want humans to be the first to achieve AGI, before robots.”
The rationale behind this, he said, is to harness the highest human intellect to help global socio-economic efforts, such as discover cures for cancer or prevent climate-related catastrophes. It is possible to find solutions to social and political crises.
But as Hyppenen warned, the consequences could be devastating if this powerful source fell into the wrong hands: terrorist organizations, power-hungry tycoons, and cybercriminal masterminds. As I warned you, there is also a flip side.
“Just like we can’t control our children, neither can we control our own work…our work will ultimately be stronger,” he said. “Eventually, humanity will emerge as the second most intelligent creation.”
As Hyppenen writes in his book, The Wise is the Vulnerable: Because it is program code itself, the behavior of the AI itself can be examined and improved. AI can code better versions of itself, and AI can code even better versions. Pretty soon we won’t be able to understand the basics of how such AI works. “
He added, “It may sound like a fundamental evolutionary mistake to produce the highest intelligence in our own biosphere. Then maybe our entire existence will be in balance, no match for a good artificial intelligence, if the AI gets too smart, just switch it off. It’s all too easy to fool ourselves into thinking we’re deceiving, but the best artificial intelligence can predict our every move and ensure our survival in ways we could never have imagined. I guess.”
One of the ways could be through full-scale cyber warfare. But that’s unlikely, says Hypponen.
The concern with cyberweapons is that unlike conventional and conventional weapons, they have no deterrence.
He cited nuclear capabilities as an example. “That’s why they hold military parades to show off and showcase their military might and weapons. States will not attack other states with nuclear capabilities. But cyberweapons have no deterrence.” .”
Cyber warfare is one of several facets of modern warfare, and along with cyber espionage and its impact on governments and corporations, is the subject of Hyppenen’s writings.
Hypponen advised continental governments to get rid of legacy technologies as quickly and efficiently as possible. “Complexity is the enemy of security. Running multiple old and outdated technologies creates complexity and vulnerabilities, especially in public sector systems.”
These sectors are looking to digital transformation and the use of AI to enhance service delivery.
The impact of AI in cybersecurity is still an issue many sectors are grappling with.
ITWeb reported this week on the formation of the South African Artificial Intelligence Association, an AI industry body. It was founded to advance responsible AI progress and bring together practitioners across multiple sectors, including government, academia, and start-ups.
