Artificial Intelligence: Help or Hindrance and Should it Become Regulated?

Many organisations are thought to be using AI as a tool to generate value. The value comes in the form of revenues. Many companies are planning to invest even more in AI responses following on as a form of their response to Covid-19 to help to accelerate digital transformation. The adoption could create a more comprehensive division between AI leaders and smaller companies struggling to capitalise on technology.

(Image Source: VentureBeat)

So the question remains, does AI have the means to create better online security, or will it have the opposite effect and increase security breaches, creating issues for businesses and large organisations in protecting customers data.

Help or hindrance?

According to AV-TEST institute, an astonishing 1139.24 million malware viruses were created in 2020. The graph below shows an apparent increase, year on year, in the total amount of malware that has been found. Growth in their numbers could be down to the rise in sophisticated technologies such as AI used in our daily lives but are not yet regulated.

(Image Source: AV-TEST)

AV-TEST registers 350,000 new malicious programs and potentially unwanted applications (PUA). The total distribution of threats over the last 12 months demonstrates a high percentage, 86.25% for malware and 13.75% for PUA. One factor to consider is how the pandemic has pushed for a global increase of online users, creating a spike in online shoppers and businesses moving to online platforms with increased traffic and threats like malware.

Unfortunately, there is no amount of human resources that can tackle the number of daily breaches and help prevent an attack that hackers create. Primarily because these new attacks and breaches are conducted with highly sophisticated technologies. Therefore, implementing the suitable types of solutions is imperative for businesses to avoid data leaks and breaches.

Fraudsters use AI in an advantageous and sophisticated way. The Internet of Things (IoT) devices are increasingly becoming a part of malicious botnets connected to the internet. Mobile bots are software applications that run automated tasks over the internet. They can perform simple tasks and at a much higher rate compared to humans.

Some bots are used by businesses to help to boost brands. However, the etch also allows criminals to automate attacks and increase invasion, increasing their capabilities against the detection system. Therefore, to help protect and avoid businesses from getting infected with malware, they need to fight back with the level of tech, if not higher.

AI and sustainability

AI-based systems can predict intelligent grid systems, which can help manage the demands and supplies of renewable energy. Doing so will create a better environment for all to live in whilst increasing sustainability. It will also optimise efficiency, reducing costs and cutting unnecessary carbon pollution generation, which is currently a big issue.

AI also has the ability to help conserve species across the world through acoustic monitoring. It can also help countries improve their recycling efforts with AI-powered robots with optical sensors to identify rubbish, sporting it for rapid recycling quickly.

(Image Source: KTH)

AI can make things better and create problems when used in a less sinister way. However, AI technology has been rapidly adopted over a range of platforms, creating cross-pollination and cross-contamination. Like all types of technology, there are beneficial ways and damaging ways to use them. As technology continues to progress, increasing our limitations, it will be interesting to see how criminals adapt as technologies such as blockchain technologies can make systems transparent without being centralised.