Malicious use of AI could turn self-driving cars and drones into weapons, top researchers warn
Intelligent machines could lower the cost of carrying out cyber attacks by automating certain tasks and more effectively scoping out potential targets, says report
By Saheli Roy Choudhury
With advances in artificial intelligence, the risks of hackers using such technologies to launch malicious attacks are increasing, top researchers warned in a report released on Wednesday.
They could use such AI to turn consumer drones and autonomous vehicles into potential weapons, for instance, said researchers from universities such Oxford, Cambridge and Yale, as well as organisations like the Elon Musk-backed OpenAI, in a report.
The report, titled “The Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence,” cautioned against various security threats posed by the misuse of AI.
Self-driving cars, for example, could be tricked into misinterpreting a stop sign that might cause road accidents, while a swarm of drones, controlled by an AI system, could be used for surveillance or launching quick, coordinated attacks, the report said.
Intelligent machines, according to the report, could lower the cost of carrying out cyberattacks by automating certain, labour-intensive tasks and more effectively scoping out potential targets.