As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, businesses are grappling with the potential security implications of these powerful technologies. While tools like ChatGPT and Bard have demonstrated their value in various domains, they also carry the risk of unintentionally exposing sensitive and confidential data. The emergence of interactive AI, a breakthrough technology that enables tasks such as geolocation, navigation, and speech-to-text applications, ushers in a new phase of chatbots and digital assistants, further complicating the cybersecurity landscape.
To understand the security risks posed by interactive AI, it is crucial to examine the concerns raised around generative AI models and large language models (LLMs). These concerns range from ethical considerations to political and ideological biases, uncensored models, and offline functionality.
Ethical concerns revolve around preventing LLMs from engaging in unethical or inappropriate activities. By fine-tuning these models, developers have been able to implement policies and guardrails that ensure AI systems refuse requests for harmful or unethical content. As interactive AI evolves and gains more autonomy than generative AI models, these policies and guardrails must remain in place to prevent AI from interacting and engaging with harmful, offensive, or illegal content.
Uncensored AI and offline functionality
Uncensored AI chatbots have presented a significant security challenge as they operate outside the constraints of the rules and controls followed by closed models like ChatGPT. A unique feature of these models is their offline functionality, which makes usage tracking extremely difficult. The lack of oversight should raise alarm bells for security teams, as users can potentially engage in nefarious activities without detection.
As interactive AI becomes more prevalent, organizations must consider how to embrace this technology while mitigating associated risks. This process involves working alongside IT and security teams, as well as employees, to implement robust security measures.
A data-first strategy, especially within a zero-trust framework, prioritizes data security within the business. By identifying and understanding how data is stored, used, and moves across an organization, and controlling who has access to that data, security teams can quickly respond to threats such as unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Strict access controls and continuous monitoring
With hybrid and distributed workforces, strict access controls are crucial for preventing unauthorized users from interacting with and exploiting AI systems. Alongside continuous monitoring and intelligence gathering, limiting access helps security teams identify and respond promptly to potential security breaches. This approach is more effective than outright blocking tools, which can lead to shadow IT risks and productivity losses.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, AI and machine learning can significantly enhance business security and productivity. AI can aid security teams by simplifying security processes and improving their effectiveness, allowing them to focus their time where it’s most needed. For employees, adequate training on the safe and secure use of AI tools is necessary while also recognizing the inevitability of human error.
Establishing clear ethical guidelines
Organizations should outline clear rules for using AI within their business. This includes addressing biases and ensuring they have built-in policies and guardrails to prevent AI systems from producing or engaging with harmful content.
Although interactive AI is a significant leap in artificial intelligence, the uncharted territory means businesses must tread carefully, or they risk crossing the fine line between AI as a powerful tool and a potential risk to their organization.
The reality is that AI isn’t going anywhere. To continuously innovate and stay ahead of the curve, companies must take a thoughtful and measured approach to embrace AI while protecting their bottom line.
