The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is providing fuel for hackers, according to the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Lt. Gen. John N.T. “Jack” Skinner said that AI-generated content can be used by malicious actors to deceive and manipulate people into believing false information or taking action against their own interests.
Skinner spoke at a virtual event hosted by AFCEA International on April 29th, where he discussed how DISA is using AI in its mission to provide secure communications and IT services for the Department of Defense (DoD). He noted that while there are many potential benefits from using AI, it also presents some unique challenges when it comes to security threats posed by malicious actors who could leverage these technologies for nefarious purposes.
One such example is what Skinner referred to as “generative adversarial networks” (GANs), which are algorithms designed to generate new data based on existing datasets—such as images or text—that can then be used in various ways, including creating fake news stories or manipulating audio recordings with deepfakes technology. GANs have been used in recent years by state-sponsored groups and other malicious actors looking to spread disinformation campaigns online through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Skinner warned that this type of activity could become even more widespread if not addressed soon: “We must remain vigilant about our adversaries’ ability to use generative AI capabilities against us… If we don’t get ahead of this now, I think we’re going to find ourselves playing catch up later.” He added that DISA has already taken steps towards addressing these issues through its Cybersecurity Automation Initiative, which seeks to automate certain aspects of cybersecurity operations within DoD networks so they can better detect and respond quickly when faced with cyberattacks leveraging advanced technologies like GANs.
In addition, Skinner highlighted the importance of educating personnel across all levels within DoD about emerging threats related to AI so they can better recognize them when they occur: “It’s important for everyone involved in defending our systems…to understand what [these] tools are capable of doing,” he said during his remarks at AFCEA International’s event last week.
Overall, Skinner emphasized the need for continued vigilance around protecting DoD networks from malicious actors who may seek out opportunities presented by advances in generative AI technology—and urged those responsible for securing these systems take proactive measures now before it becomes too late down the line. |Generative AI providing fuel for hackers, DISA Director Skinner says|Security|C4ISRNET
