There have been a series of data breaches at private companies due to cyberattacks. Since the second half of the year, the intensity of cyberattacks seems to have escalated. There is no doubt that AI is behind this.

As has been pointed out before, while the spread of AI will strengthen security, cyberattacks will also become more sophisticated. Currently, it seems that AI cyberattacks are outpacing AI security.

In the field of cybersecurity, sooner or later, we will enter an era where AI defends against AI attacks. However, in cybersecurity, it is common sense that the attacker has a significant advantage over the defender. Therefore, it is likely that damage from attacks that cannot be fully defended against will continue to occur frequently.

Personally, I believe that private companies and government agencies will increase their defensive capabilities and gradually reduce damage by advancing the use of advanced AI. On the other hand, the concern is the harm to the general public.

Ordinary citizens, who find it difficult to utilize advanced AI security, are particularly vulnerable to AI cyberattacks. It is clear that AI-based cyberattacks targeting individuals will become rampant in the future.
Of particular concern is the increasing sophistication of AI-driven social engineering. Social engineering, which exploits human psychology and trust relationships to steal confidential information and money, cannot be adequately addressed with individual-level solutions alone. When social engineering involves intelligent AI, for better or for worse, even individuals with high levels of literacy at an expert level cannot escape the risk of being outmaneuvered.
How can we protect individuals’ lives and activities from AI-based cyberattacks? Primarily, it comes down to individual discretion, but as attacks far exceeding what individuals can handle become more frequent, it will undoubtedly develop into a major social problem.
Protecting private companies and government agencies is important, but in terms of severity, the burden on individuals is greater. (Kei Kitajima)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI