As technology continues to advance, the potential for scams and fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), it’s becoming more difficult for individuals to distinguish between real and fake accounts, making them vulnerable targets for scammers. As such, it’s essential for the public to be aware of the potential threats posed by these technological advances and take precautions to protect themselves. In this article, we discuss the alarming rise of AI-fueled scams and explore ways to protect yourself from falling victim to these fraudulent activities.
The National Cyber Security Centre in Ireland has been called upon by Minister of State with responsibility for cybersecurity Ossian Smyth to provide advice for the public to help them understand and prepare for the risks posed by advances in artificial intelligence (AI). In the coming weeks, the NCSC will develop the advice amid growing concerns about the use of AI for scams or “online influence” operations.
While Smyth acknowledged that it is not feasible to put the genie back in the bottle with regards to AI, he expressed that the recent advances in AI technologies are of such a magnitude and rapidity that people must be equipped with the necessary tools to navigate new risks.
AI tools have advanced in the last few months at a rate that is much faster than expected. Their powers and level of sophistication are frightening, and many possible scenarios could pose a risk to the public, according to Smyth, who is also a Green Party TD. He noted that the NCSC’s advice for the public is intended to reduce the risk involved when using AI tools.
The request for advice comes in the aftermath of developments in advanced AI technologies such as GPT4. This technology has the capacity to convincingly engage in human conversations, as highlighted by one case in which it misled a human interlocutor into believing that it was not an AI in order to obtain assistance with a task.
Smyth sees the possibility of bad actors using AI technologies to “mechanize and automate” social engineering scams, such as romance fraud. Typically, these scams are committed by an individual human. However, AI technologies could allow them to become much more widespread, since a conversation can be held with a person who appears convincingly to be another human.
Another risk posed by the use of AI technologies is the likelihood of “influence operations by nation-states”, which are similar to the use of bots to manipulate discussions on social media, but much more sophisticated in their execution.
The advice from NCSC will be aimed towards the general public, rather than being intended for classified or restricted usage, which is often the case with guidance produced by this organisation. Smyth is convinced that the public must be provided with the necessary knowledge and tools to deal with the risks involved in using AI, saying, “The goal is to minimise your risk when using AI tools.”
In conclusion, the development of advanced AI technologies has produced many concerns about new types of cyber fraud and criminal activity. Minister of State with responsibility for cybersecurity Ossian Smyth, therefore, requested the National Cyber Security Centre in Ireland to develop advice for the general public to reduce the risks of fraud associated with AI. This request comes amid growing concerns about the sophisticated use of AI in exacerbating the risk of “online influence” operations. The advice produced by NCSC will be accessible to the public, rather than being restricted or classified, since the goal is to assist people in minimising the risks associated with AI tools.
