The Rising Threat of Cyberattacks: Would AI Technology Become Future Target of Hackers?

The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology brings significant benefits to various industries such as healthcare, finance, education, and transportation. However, alongside its remarkable development is the increasing risk associated with cybercrime (Ford, 2019). As AI technology becomes more vital in our everyday lives, it is essential to consider the potential vulnerabilities and targets that hackers might exploit. This article will discuss the reasons for the increased vulnerability of AI technology to hackers, and evaluate the potential impact on safety, security, and privacy.

1. Dependency on AI systems

The reliance on AI systems has grown exponentially in recent years as businesses continue to digitize their operations and services (Ford, 2019). AI systems have become integral components of financial systems, healthcare institutions, and transportation networks. As dependency on these systems expands, so does the attractiveness of these targets to cybercriminals (Kumar & Sharma, 2020). Destabilizing such systems can cause havoc and potentially yield significant financial gains for the attackers.

2. Exploiting vulnerabilities in data collection and storage

Data collection is a fundamental aspect of AI systems, as these systems rely on data to learn, make accurate predictions, and provide valuable insights (Brundage et al., 2018). Hackers may target AI technology to gain unauthorized access to valuable and sensitive data, compromising the privacy and security of individuals and corporations (Kumar & Sharma, 2020). In addition, hackers can manipulate the data used to train AI models, causing the models to generate biased or malicious content (Brundage et al., 2018).

3. AI-driven cyberattacks

Researchers have raised concerns about the potential use of AI technology in carrying out cyberattacks (Brundage et al., 2018). By harnessing the power of AI, hackers can develop tools capable of analyzing the patterns and vulnerabilities in software systems (Ford, 2019). This development process can make it easier for cybercriminals to target and infiltrate AI-based systems, posing new and significant risks.

4. AI technology supporting the scaling of cybercrime

AI systems enable cybercriminals to scale their operations, automating tasks previously done by individual hackers (Brundage et al., 2018). AI-driven social engineering attacks such as phishing, and deepfakes, can deceive victims and target individuals on a larger scale than ever before (Kumar & Sharma, 2020). The integration of AI into cybercriminal operations is a cause for concern and highlights the urgent need to design and implement robust security measures.

5. Limited regulatory framework and workforce

An increase in cybercrimes targeting AI technology is expected due to the limited regulatory framework governing AI systems (Ford, 2019). This emerging technology presents unique challenges in terms of privacy, security, and transparency. Although regulatory efforts have begun to address these concerns, a comprehensive regulatory framework remains a work in progress (Kumar & Sharma, 2020). Moreover, the demand for cybersecurity professionals who are well-versed in AI far outpaces the supply; this gap leaves many organizations vulnerable to attack (Ford, 2019).

Conclusion

As AI technology advances and becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it brings significant challenges in terms of potential exploitation by hackers. Cybercriminals now have access to powerful tools, enabling them to exploit vulnerabilities in data collection, conduct AI-driven cyberattacks, scale their operations, and capitalize on weak regulation and workforce shortages. It is essential to continue researching and investing in cybersecurity countermeasures, as well as develop and enforce robust regulations, to protect both organizations and individuals from the catastrophic consequences of AI-targeted cybercrimes.

References

Brundage, M., Avin, S., Clark, J., Toner, H., Eckersley, P., Garfinkel, B., … & Anderson, H. (2018). The malicious use of artificial intelligence: Forecasting, prevention, and mitigation. arXiv preprint arXiv:1802.07228.

Ford, M. (2019). Architects of Intelligence: The truth about AI from the people building it. Packt Publishing.

Kumar, A., & Sharma, M. (2020). Cybersecurity of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Threats. Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series B, 101(2), 177-188.