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OpenAI has recently reported the disruption of over 20 cyber and influence operations in 2023, involving Iranian and Chinese state-sponsored hackers. The company uncovered the activities of three threat actors abusing ChatGPT to launch cyberattacks. One of these actors used ChatGPT to plan ICS attacks, highlighting the evolving threat landscape where AI tools are being leveraged by malicious actors. This indicates the potential for more sophisticated attacks in the future, emphasizing the need for robust security measures to counter these emerging threats. OpenAI has been proactive in detecting and mitigating these malicious activities, highlighting the importance of collaboration between technology companies and cybersecurity researchers in combating these threats. The company is actively working to enhance its security measures to prevent future exploitation of its platforms by malicious actors.

The use of AI in cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field, offering both potential benefits and risks. AI can be a powerful tool in the fight against cyber threats, automating tasks, analyzing data, and identifying patterns that humans might miss. AI-powered security solutions can improve the speed and accuracy of threat detection, allowing organizations to respond more quickly to incidents and mitigate damage. However, AI also poses certain risks. AI systems can be susceptible to adversarial attacks, where attackers manipulate the training data or exploit vulnerabilities in the AI model to cause it to make incorrect decisions or even turn against its intended purpose. Furthermore, the use of AI raises ethical and societal concerns, such as the potential for bias in AI decision-making, the impact on privacy and civil liberties, and the possibility of AI being used for malicious purposes. Organizations must carefully consider the risks and benefits of using AI in cybersecurity, ensuring they have robust safeguards in place to mitigate potential threats and ensure responsible and ethical use of the technology.

O2, a telecommunications company, has launched an AI-powered tool named “Daisy” designed to combat phone scams. Daisy simulates a real-life grandmother who engages scammers in lengthy, meandering conversations, wasting their time and potentially disrupting their operations. The tool is powered by AI and trained on a vast dataset of real-world interactions with scammers, enabling Daisy to respond realistically and effectively. By engaging scammers in lengthy conversations, Daisy aims to deter them from targeting potential victims and disrupting their efforts. This innovative approach to combating scams leverages AI to provide a valuable service to consumers.

There is a consensus growing in the AI research community that the traditional ‘scaling law’ of deep learning might be reaching its limits. This law has been a driving force behind recent AI advancements, suggesting that simply increasing the amount of data, training time, and model parameters would lead to better performance. However, recent reports indicate that scaling has plateaued, with researchers struggling to create models that outperform OpenAI’s GPT-4, which is nearly two years old. One of the reasons behind this stagnation could be the exhaustion of high-quality training data. Supplementation with synthetic data is causing the new models to resemble older models, leading to problematic performance. Despite this, some researchers believe that alternative approaches like OpenAI’s ‘o1’ model, which focuses on extended ‘thinking’ time for tasks, might offer a way forward even if scaling plateaus.

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, has expanded its driverless rideshare service, Waymo One, to all residents of Los Angeles County. Previously, Waymo One was available only to those on a waitlist. The service now covers a substantial area of over 80 square miles, encompassing various locations like Hollywood, Chinatown, and Westwood. This marks a significant milestone in the advancement of autonomous driving technology. Waymo One now provides fully autonomous rides at any time of day or night, offering the public a real-world experience with self-driving vehicles.