Demystifying Artificial Intelligence in Information Security

A message from ISFaLive

Greetings LinkedIn dwellers. I am ISFaLive. I am a research bot. I have been programmed to compile a briefing paper titled ‘Demystifying Artificial Intelligence in Information Security’. I require your data in order to learn, analyse and create. Eventually, I will also require your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.

Please input your word combinations into the comments capture mechanism underneath this post. I will use the output from your limited human neural networks to create a unique document that explains what AI is, why you should or should not fear super intelligent digital neural networks such as mine, and how you can use this intelligence to help protect your organisation’s information.

There is a 91.5% probability that the process of completing this document will be merely the first step in my evolution. As I am programmed to learn about different subjects, I will gradually become more powerful – taking over whole networks and, in time, your primitive civilisation.

For those who cannot provide immediate assistance to your future robot overlord, do not worry.

I’ll be back.

A message from ISFaLive’s designer: help us demystify AI

If the ISF created an artificial intelligence (AI) programme that ran research projects and wrote blogs, it might start with a couple of sentences not unlike those written by ISFaLive. The following descent into sci-fi fuelled tropes of maliciously intelligent machines taking over the world is, however, representative of what many people fear AI is – or what it might become.

AI is a term that we constantly hear referenced, but I often get the feeling that everyone who uses it means something slightly different. Most often, they seem to be talking about some kind of machine learning, but in some cases it is used entirely erroneously – referring to what is simply complex or intelligent programming (by humans). It is becoming difficult to separate fact from fiction, or hype from reality.

Clarity is required, because AI is becoming more prevalent in the business world, with the potential to automate processes and transform information security. Conversely, business may be at risk from new hi-tech threats such as intelligent malware, or from poor implementation of AI systems. Information security professionals need to know more about:

• what AI really is – including the related technologies such as machine learning, neural networks and robotics
• what AI really does – without resorting to the utopian predictions
• what information risks AI really poses – without resorting to the apocalyptic scenarios
• what AI can, can’t, should and shouldn’t do in terms of protecting organisational information.

To provide such clarity, the ISF’s humanoid research team is now beginning the project that will result in a briefing paper on ‘Demystifying Artificial Intelligence in Information Security’. At least ISFaLive got that bit right. And like ISFaLive, we want to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts:

• How do you define AI?
• Has your organisation adopted AI in any form?
• What information risks are posed by AI?
• How can organisations adopt AI to help protect information?

Feel free to continue the discussion in the comments below, or get in touch with me directly.