As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies advance, researchers are voicing concerns about the possibility of AI-fueled cyber-physical attacks on critical US infrastructure. Last month, the FBI warned that Chinese hackers might impair critical sectors such as water treatment, electrical, and transportation infrastructure. MIT’s Stuart Madnick, an influential authority in cybersecurity, stresses that these concerns could transcend beyond digital damage and pose real threats to national security.
Emerging threats to cybersecurity
The integration of AI into hacking strategies is changing the cybersecurity landscape, resulting in more complex and potentially destructive attacks. Madnick’s research at MIT Sloan’s CAMS has revealed that cyberattacks can now cause physical harm, such as explosions in lab settings, by manipulating computer-controlled equipment. This differs from traditional cyberattacks, which only briefly impair services, and highlights the rising threat of long-term damage to critical infrastructure.
AI’s role in rising threats