AI News Roundup: Hackers from Adversary Nations Using ChatGPT

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Nation-state actors using ChatGPT

Microsoft has said it caught nation-state actors using generative AI services from OpenAI to improve their hacking abilities.

Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) said that actors backed by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea were all found using services such as ChatGPT to enhance their productivity and “advance their objectives and attack techniques.”

Microsoft’s research published in collaboration with OpenAI found that bad actors were using AI tools for a variety of tasks, including research, malware development and improving their English language abilities.

For example, hackers linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard were found to have used large language models to create phishing emails. North Korean hacking group Emerald Sleet was found to have used generative AI tools to support their research efforts.

Russian hackers meanwhile were found to have used AI models to support cyber attacks on targets in Ukraine, including targeting satellite communications.

However, the research states that neither party has clocked “significant attacks” utilizing large language models.

“While attackers will remain interested in AI and probe technologies’ current capabilities and security controls, it’s important to keep these risks in context,” the joint research blog reads.

“As always, hygiene practices such as multifactor authentication (MFA) and Zero Trust defenses are essential because attackers may use AI-based tools to improve their existing cyber attacks that rely on social engineering and finding unsecured devices and accounts.”

Karpathy leaves OpenAI

OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy has left the company, the first big-name departure following its boardroom revolt last November.

Karpathy leaves OpenAI for the second time. He left in June 2017 to become Tesla's director of artificial intelligence before returning last February.

Upon his return, he has been involved in projects related to AI assistants, working with Bob McGrew, OpenAI’s research chief.

An OpenAI spokesperson told The Information that Karpathy was leaving “to pursue personal projects.”

“We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him the best.”

Karpathy took to Twitter, saying his departure was “not a result of any particular event, issue or drama.”

Slack gets AI features

Salesforce is rolling out AI features on its Slack app, including AI-powered search capabilities.

Dubbed Slack AI, the features are designed to allow users to tap into their organization’s collective knowledge shared in Slack.

Among them is a search tool where users can ask a question conversationally. The system conversationally returns relevant data and also suggests questions around particular terms.

There is also a channel recaps tool that creates highlights from your Slack channels and a summarization tool enabling users to get up to speed on any thread.

Coming soon to Slack are more AI features, including personalization tools, more summarization capabilities and AI-powered app integrations from Salesforce’s partner ecosystem.

Google solidifies its AI position in France

Google has opened a new AI hub in Paris, housing some 300 scientists and engineers.

The Paris site opening was officiated by CEO Sundar Pichai, who said the city was “a global center for innovation and a magnet for tech talent.”

Google’s new research hub will assist local startups, academics and enterprises. Also in attendance for the unveiling was French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who last week laid out his desire for France to become an AI superpower.

While in Paris, Pichai met with French President Emmanuel Macron. Bloomberg reports that the pair discussed preparations for the French version of the AI Safety Summit due to take place later this year.