Can AI chatbots pass a cybersecurity test? Here’s what MU researchers learned

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) – Artificial intelligence is not quite ready to handle the cybersecurity of a local government or business on its own, but it could be in the near future, according to researchers at the University of Missouri’s Center For Cyber Education, Research And Infrastructure.

A recent study was co-authored by University of Missouri researcher Prasad Calyam, who serves as the Greg L. Gilliom Professor of Cyber Security in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Calyam’s team found chatbot engines such as Open AI’s Chat GPT and Google’s “Bard,” which was since rebranded as “Gemini,” performed relatively well on a hacking exam used to test the knowledge of cybersecurity workers.

“The interesting thing that we found was that the answers are, in general, pretty good, and we expect, as these chatbots mature, they will get even better,” Calyam said.

Where the bots’ performance suffered, though, was when they were prompted to respond with advice, which the team identified as ineffective at worst, and outright damaging at best.

“That could be potentially bad because, if you are an expert and you’re relying on bad advice, the vulnerability could be further exposed than what it is there, so the problem can become even more severe,” Calyam said.

The team’s conclusion is that while AI has applications in cybersecurity now, the bots are not currently configured to perform at the level of consistency required to manage cybersecurity independently.

“These AI tools can be a good starting point to investigate issues before consulting an expert,” Calyam said. “They can also be good training tools for those working with information technology or who want to learn the basics on identifying and explaining emerging threats.”

The center said with so much of our lives happening online now, it’s more vital than ever that cybersecurity be a top priority of governments, businesses and consumers.

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