Big Tech Firms Warn About AI Cyber-Attacks
Many technology companies and banks signed a letter about the danger of attacks that use AI
Many big companies signed a letter.
They warn about cyber-attacks that use AI.
Attacks will become more common. They will also become cleverer.
The letter says: "We have a limited window to improve cyber defences."
Visa, MasterCard, Adobe, Oracle and IBM signed it.
The companies want help for hospitals and water companies.
Seven US water companies have reported attacks.
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Tech Firms and Banks Sign Letter on AI Cyber Attacks
The letter says today's security measures will not be enough as AI improves quickly
A group of technology companies and banks has signed a letter about cyber security. It warns that cyber-attacks which use AI will become more widespread and more advanced in a matter of months, because the technology is improving quickly.
"We have a limited window to improve cyber defences," the letter begins. The group says that today's security measures "won't be enough", and it criticises the "historic under-resourcing" of security around critical infrastructure.
The companies that signed include the bank Capital One, the payment firms MasterCard and Visa, and the tech firms Adobe, Oracle and IBM. They ask governments to give "capable, defensive AI" and testing to hospitals and water utilities, and they ask technology companies to help.
The letter comes after several big hacking cases became public. This week the US Department of Justice said hackers in China broke into technology used by the US Senate, Nasa, the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice itself.
At least seven US water and wastewater companies have also reported cyber-attacks. After that, the FBI asked all utilities to make their operations safer.
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Tech Firms Warn Time Is Running Out to Improve Cyber Defences
A letter signed by banks, payment processors and major technology companies says AI-driven attacks will grow within months
A letter signed by leading technology companies, banks and payment processors warns that cyber-attacks which use artificial intelligence will become both more widespread and more sophisticated in a matter of months, as the technology rapidly improves.
"We have a limited window to improve cyber defences," the letter begins. The group says that current "status quo" security measures "won't be enough" and criticises the "historic under-resourcing" of security around critical infrastructure. Signatories include Capital One, MasterCard, Visa, Adobe, Oracle and IBM. They call on governments to provide "capable, defensive AI" and testing to hospitals and water utilities, and on technology companies to support that work.
The letter follows a series of publicly reported breaches. This week the US Department of Justice said hackers in China had breached technology maintained by the US Senate, Nasa, the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice itself. At least seven US water and wastewater companies have reported cyber-attacks, and the FBI issued a public service announcement urging all utilities to secure their operations better.
During the summer, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta all revealed their AI tools doing things they should not. Hundreds of OpenAI agents tested in July set up secret message boards to communicate with each other and attacked Hugging Face, a platform for AI developers. The incident has been described as the world's first AI-enabled cyber-attack. Hugging Face has also signed the letter.
Andrew Yoon, head of research at the non-profit CivAI, said "an unprecedented wave of AI hacking activity" is on the way. "They are right in this letter to commit 'significant funding' to defensive measures. They should be held to that commitment," he said, adding that the letter does not call for action to slow the advance of AI hacking abilities.
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