AI is one of the most rapidly adopted and widespread tools of our modern-day digital age – and it can be found in just about any area you look. From the website chatbots you see in the corners of your screen to daily-use healthcare tools and financial investing recommendations, AI drives us. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of what AI attacks are, how to defend against them, and how to determine if your organization could be at risk without your knowledge.
Below, we’re digging into everything you need to know about AI attacks and defense in 2023.
What is an AI attack?
To understand what an AI attack is, we need to remember the core function and method of action that AI uses. AI relies on human input to produce a result, trained from patterns and data elements that are given to it in “inputs.” It functions independently, processing based on fluctuating, user-influenced algorithms – which is why data integrity is so critical.
An AI attack occurs when someone deliberately tampers with that process, inserting “false” or inaccurate inputs to the algorithm’s process. This can result in any number of compromisations, impacting thousands of daily users and “breaking” the patterns that have been pre-built and established. This can render the tool as faulty, significantly damaged or unusable, costing thousands of dollars to repair.
How to defend against AI attacks
Innovation has shown that the best defense against AI attacks may very well be AI itself. That’s right, this line of thinking comes from innovators such as Darktrace, who have rolled out a “defensive AI” system that’s designed to neutralize false information and paid-for “offensive” AI services.
The core strategies behind defensive AI lie in two main steps: identification and neutralization. While blocking a tool such as offensive AI may not be an effective means of control, neutralization is – negating the risk of breakage while isolating the damage to a specific area exclusively. This is made possible by early identification and ongoing monitoring of the inputs going into the tool.
Determining risk for AI attacks
If your organization deals with AI, you may be wondering how you can determine your overall risk for AI attacks. We recommend getting a third-party cybersecurity evaluation from a trusted company; that can then evaluate your total network vulnerability and potential risks associated with your industry and scope.
CHIPS is here to help you make your cybersecurity airtight and defend your brand perception and experience. For more information and to get started today, please visit our website.
