UPSC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : An AI-infused world needs matching cybersecurity
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: The Hindu
• Prelims: Science and technology, Artificial intelligence(AI), Generative AI, Big Data, GANs, phishing, cybersecurity, ChatGPT1 tool etc
• Mains GS Paper III and IV: Significance of technology for India, AI, indigenisation of technology and development of new technology.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
• According to a recent report, there has been a 1,265% increase in phishing incidents/emails, along with a 967% increase in credential phishing since the fourth quarter of 2022 arising from the exacerbated utilization/manipulation of generative AI.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Artificial intelligence(AI):
• It is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers.
• It describes the action of machines accomplishing tasks that have historically required human intelligence.
• It includes technologies like machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, self algorithms etc.
• g: *Facebook’s facial recognition software which identifies faces in the photos we post, the voice recognition software that translates commands we give to Alexa*, etc are some of the examples of AI already around us.
Generative AI:
• Generative AI industry projected to increase global GDP by as much as $7 to $10 trillion, the development of generative AI solutions
• It is a cutting-edge technological advancement that utilizes machine learning and artificial intelligence to create new forms of media, such as text, audio, video, and animation.
• With the advent of advanced machine learning capabilities: It is possible to generate new and creative short and long-form content, synthetic media, and even deep fakes with simple text, also known as prompts.
AI innovations:
• GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks)
• LLMs (Large Language Models)
• GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformers)
• Image Generation to experiment
• Create commercial offerings like DALL-E for image generation
• ChatGPT for text generation. It can write blogs, computer code, and marketing copies and even generate results for search queries.
• It can write blogs, computer code, and marketing copies and even generate results for search queries.
Advantages of generative AI:
• It has transformed how we operate, with its integration into sectors such as education, banking, health care, and manufacturing.
• It has transformed the paradigm of cyber-risks and safety as we know it.
Challenges around Generative AI:
• With sophisticated cyber threats on the rise, organizations and individuals are susceptible to the novel avenues of cyber-attacks
• As per a study conducted by Deep Instinct, around 75% of professionals witnessed an upsurge in cyberattacks in the past year alone 85% of CD surveyed respondents have attributed the increased risk to generative AI.
• 85% of CD surveyed respondents have attributed the increased risk to generative AI.
• As generative AI continues to mature, newer, more complex threats have arisen: Through cognitive behavioral manipulation
• Through cognitive behavioral manipulation
• Critically dangerous incidents have surfaced, with voice-activated toys and gadgets that encourage dangerous behaviors in children and/or posing a grave threat to one’s privacy and security.
• Remote and real-time biometric identification systems (such as facial recognition) have further jeopardized the right to privacy It has massively endangered individuals on several occasions in recent times.
• It has massively endangered individuals on several occasions in recent times.
• Increasing manipulation via generative AI (specifically over the past couple of years) has resulted in the the spiralling vulnerability of organizations to attacks Most organizations cite undetectable phishing attacks (37%) An increase in the volume of attacks (33%) Growing privacy concerns (39%).
• Most organizations cite undetectable phishing attacks (37%)
• An increase in the volume of attacks (33%)
• Growing privacy concerns (39%).
• Identification by several cybersecurity conglomerates: complex hacker groups using generative AI solutions has raised an alarm. AI models being leveraged for translating and identifying coding errors to maximize the impact of cyberattacks.
• AI models being leveraged for translating and identifying coding errors to maximize the impact of cyberattacks.
Bletchley Declaration(Bletchley Park, England):
• The Bletchley Park Declaration is the first global pact on tackling frontier AI risks
• It reflects a high-level political consensus and commitment among the major AI players in the world.
• It acknowledges the potential of AI to enhance human well-being
• It recognizes the risks posed by AI, especially frontier AI, which may cause serious harm, either deliberate or unintentional, particularly in domains like cybersecurity, biotechnology, and disinformation.
• It emphasizes the need for international cooperation to address AI-related risks, as they are inherently global, and calls for collaboration among all actors, including companies, civil society, and academia.
• The declaration announces the establishment of a regular AI Safety Summit, which will provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration on frontier AI safety.
• The countries that signed the agreement include: China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Ethical Issues with AI:
Way Forward
• It becomes imperative now to develop solutions through collaborative avenues to safeguard confidential information, identities, and even human rights.
• While stringent ethical and legislative frameworks are underway to combat growing cyber crimes due to AI Loopholes and a lack of industrial understanding/comprehension in regulating generative AI persist.
• Loopholes and a lack of industrial understanding/comprehension in regulating generative AI persist.
• At the institutional level, stern policy-led efforts are pivotal to bolstering the stance against increasing challenges via solutions such as enhancing the stance for watermarking to identify AI-generated content. This could aid in reducing cyber threats from AI-generated content, warning consumers to take appropriate actions.
• This could aid in reducing cyber threats from AI-generated content, warning consumers to take appropriate actions.
• A collaborative effort between institutional and industrial stakeholders could necessitate the process of improving and implementing a realistic, practical, and effective framework with the inclusion of feedback from the public to further strengthen the drafting of these regulations
• with the inclusion of feedback from the public to further strengthen the drafting of these regulations
• At the corporate level, greater emphasis is required to accommodate digital awareness via occupational media and digital literacy training sessions fostering robust digital fluency in the workspace while identifying and tackling gaps in digital knowledge among employees. This could equip the workforce to efficiently navigate the digital landscape, identify credibility, and verify the sources for authentication.
• fostering robust digital fluency in the workspace while identifying and tackling gaps in digital knowledge among employees.
• This could equip the workforce to efficiently navigate the digital landscape, identify credibility, and verify the sources for authentication.
• For a truly holistic approach to cybersecurity in an AI-driven world, we cannot overlook the crucial role of non-governmental organizations and other outreach organizations that introduce individuals to the wonders of the digital world Equip them with the essential tools of cyber literacy.
• Equip them with the essential tools of cyber literacy.
• By fostering a digitally savvy citizenry from the ground up, we can build a more robust defense against the evolving threats in this AI-driven digital landscape.
• Developing more sophisticated systems and technologies, collaborative efforts are paramount to harbor a sense of security, enabling individuals and organizations to further empower communities to safeguard their personal interests and identities.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
What are the different elements of cyber security ? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.(UPSC 2022) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
Editorial Analysis – 10 May 2024