"Prepare for AI Hackers"
Bruce Schneier, a computer security expert and adjunct lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, envisions a not-too-distant future in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) can catch and exploit security flaws with superhuman speed, scope, scale, and complexity. Future AI hackers will not be restricted to computers, as they will be able to hack financial, political, and social systems in various ways. At its most fundamental level, an AI is a sophisticated software program that uses step-by-step procedures or algorithms to solve a defined problem, such as detecting an object in a picture. AI models differ from other computer programs in that their proficiency increases as they process more data. AI systems are supposed to learn through experience, much like humans. However, unlike most humans, AI models are not bound by norms, morals, and assumptions, thus allowing them to create innovative hacks that humans would never consider. This article continues to discuss Schneier's thoughts and insights on the threat posed by AI hackers.