Experts call for new solutions to increasingly sophisticated digital threats
Cybersecurity-related products are on display at an exhibition in Shanghai. (CHINA DAILY)
The increasing integration of artificial intelligence across various sectors has significantly impacted the cybersecurity field, and as digital threats become more sophisticated, traditional approaches to cybersecurity are proving inadequate, necessitating the adoption of AI-enhanced solutions, officials and experts said.
The comments come after China’s cybersecurity sector has seen substantial growth, with its market size expected to reach about 220 billion yuan ($30.8 billion) by 2023 and the number of listed companies in the sector increasing to 28, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Sui Jing, director of the MIIT Cybersecurity Administration, said integrating AI into security measures will boost the development of new technologies, products and models in the field of cybersecurity.
This synergy is expected to lead to the intensive development of high-end and intelligent security products, thereby strengthening the ability to protect against cyber threats, Sui said. The ministry, she added, will step up efforts to encourage companies to develop technologies crucial to AI-enhanced security, especially in areas such as the industrial internet and autonomous driving.
Wu Hequan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between AI vendors and industries to develop industry-specific large-scale language models or AI LLMs.
LLMs are AI models powered by massive amounts of text data for use in a variety of tasks, from natural language processing to machine translation. This is the key technology behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has been taking the world by storm since late 2022.
Such collaborations can expand access to advanced AI capabilities, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, enabling them to effectively implement AI-based security measures, Wu said.
Integrating AI into cybersecurity is not just a technological advancement, but a necessity in the face of evolving cyber threats. As AI continues to redefine content production and consumption, its role in cybersecurity becomes increasingly crucial, Wu said.
Zhou Hongyi, founder and chairman of 360 Security Group, highlighted the critical role of AI in addressing the limitations of traditional cybersecurity methods.
AI’s superior data processing capabilities and its ability to quickly respond to incidents and trace security breaches are essential to managing the vast amounts of data involved in cybersecurity operations, Zhou said.
He highlighted the need for AI-powered solutions to stay ahead of malicious actors who are increasingly leveraging AI to develop sophisticated attack tools.
Crimes committed using artificial intelligence are on the rise. For example, in February, Hong Kong police exposed a fraud case in which individuals used artificial intelligence deepfake technology. The perpetrators impersonated the CFO of a multinational corporation during a video conference, convincing a Hong Kong-based employee to transfer HK$200 million ($30.9 million). The fraud was only discovered when the employee verified the request with the head office.
This incident highlights the double-edged nature of AI in cybersecurity. While AI can greatly enhance defenses, it also provides adversaries with powerful tools to execute more convincing and sophisticated attacks. This dichotomy requires a robust AI-centric approach to cybersecurity that can both counter AI-enhanced threats and leverage AI capabilities to strengthen defenses, experts said.
To address these challenges, companies like 360 Security Group are investing heavily in developing AI-based cybersecurity models. Zhou said the 360 Security model includes six specialized sub-models focusing on various aspects of cybersecurity, such as attack detection, operational management, traceability, knowledge management, data protection, code security, and vulnerability analysis.
This holistic approach ensures that different facets of cybersecurity are addressed using tailored AI solutions, Zhou said.
Additionally, to make these advanced security models accessible, 360 Security Group announced that its security model will be available free of charge to customers purchasing its standard products, with existing customers receiving free upgrades.
