NEW YORK: Top law enforcement and intelligence officials in the United States have raised concerns about the potential for increased cybercrime facilitated by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the International Conference on Cyber Security at Fordham University in Manhattan, officials outlined the risks associated with reduced technical barriers, making hacking, scamming, and money laundering more accessible to individuals with less technical expertise.
Rob Joyce, the director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, highlighted that AI is empowering less capable persons to conduct hacking operations effectively, making them more dangerous. However, Joyce also noted that AI advances are aiding US authorities in identifying malicious activities.
Increase in Cybercrime Due to AI
James Smith, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, disclosed that the FBI is witnessing a rise in cyber intrusions due to AI lowering technical entry points for such criminal activities.
In addition to hacking, two top federal prosecutors expressed concerns about the potential impact of AI on financial crimes. Damian Williams, the US Attorney in Manhattan, warned that AI could assist non-English speakers in generating convincing messages to scam victims for money.
Breon Peace, the US Attorney in Brooklyn, highlighted the use of AI-generated “deepfake” images and videos to deceive banks’ identity verification systems, facilitating money laundering on a larger scale.
Peace emphasized the potential consequences, stating, “That, in turn, could allow criminals and terrorists to open accounts at scale, undermining the system of controls that we have developed for decades.”
