ARTIFICIAL intelligence poses three major risks to gadget users, according to a leading cyber-expert.
Tech giants are pouring billions of dollars into creating genius AI apps.
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But experts have warned that there are risks to the sci-fi tech.
Google, Microsoft, Apple and Meta are all working on AI – and several popular chatbots like ChatGPT, Bing and Bard are already available.
AI apps can answer complicated questions, generate images and videos, and even write computer code.
The U.S. Sun spoke to cyber-expert Simon Newman who warned that despite the benefits of AI, gadget users should be aware of three major risks.
Deepfakes
Deepfakes began as AI-generated video clips that are used to impersonate someone.
But the term is often now used to include photos and audio clips too.
These highly convincing fakes are only getting better over time.
“The main risk is that AI-generated content has the potential to become indistinguishable from legitimate sources of information,” said Simon, a member of International Cyber Expo’s Advisory Council and CEO of the Cyber Resilience Centre.
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“Leading to a rise in ‘deepfakes’ and misinformation for people who use their gadgets to keep abreast of current affairs.”
Processing data
But deepfakes aren’t the only risk you need to worry about.
“AI also has implications for privacy – it learns by using huge amounts of data,” Simon explained.
There are two main fears when it comes to privacy.
The first is that AI learns by gobbling up huge amounts of data on the internet.
In a way, the AI becomes a vast resource for knowledge – but that may include details it’s consumed about you over time.
The second risk is the information that you give to it.
If you provide personal information to an AI chatbot in a conversation, you risk that information leaking out.
So be very careful when chatting with an AI.
Scams and hacks
The third risk is when AI is used by crooks to make their attacks faster, more efficient and increasingly hard to stop.
“Finally, AI is increasingly being used by cyber-criminals to target gadget users – a lack of regulation and the pace of technology makes it hard to keep ahead,” Simon warned.
Crooks can use AI to stay one step ahead of security officials, finding gadget and app “exploits” and developing sinister hacks.
If security experts at tech companies don’t know these holes exist yet, they’ll struggle to stop them instantly.
It’s important to update your devices and apps as often as possible so that you have the best protections against criminals attacks.
Similarly crooks could use AI to craft increasingly convincing “phishing” emails and websites designed to trick you.
Be very cautious when inputting any private info on the internet.
