Jacob Steinhardt, an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, shared insights at a recent event in Toronto, Canada, hosted by the Global Risk Institute. During his keynote, Steinhardt, an expert in electrical engineering, computer science, and statistics, discussed the advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity.

Steinhardt predicts that by the end of this decade, AI could surpass human abilities in executing cyber attacks. He believes that AI systems will eventually develop "superhuman" skills in coding and finding vulnerabilities within software.

Exploits, or weak spots in software and hardware, are commonly exploited by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to systems. Once these access points are found, attackers can execute ransomware attacks, locking out users or encrypting sensitive data in exchange for a ransom. 

Traditionally, identifying these exploits requires painstakingly reviewing lines of code — a task that most humans find tedious. Steinhardt points out that AI, unlike humans, does not tire, making it particularly suited to the repetitive process of exploit discovery, which it could perform with remarkable accuracy.

Steinhardt’s talk comes amid rising cybercrime concerns. A 2023 report by EY Canada indicated that 80% of surveyed Canadian businesses experienced at least 25 cybersecurity incidents within the year. While AI holds promise as a defensive tool, Steinhardt warns that it could also be exploited for malicious purposes.

One example he cited is the misuse of AI in creating "deep fakes"— digitally manipulated images, videos, or audio used for deception. These fakes have been used to scam individuals and businesses by impersonating trusted figures, leading to costly fraud incidents, including a recent case involving a British company tricked into sending $25 million to fraudsters.

In closing, Steinhardt reflected on AI’s potential risks and rewards, calling himself a "worried optimist." He estimated a 10% chance that AI could lead to human extinction, balanced by a 50% chance it could drive substantial economic growth and "radical prosperity."

The talk wrapped up the Hinton Lectures in Toronto, a two-evening series inaugurated by AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, who introduced Steinhardt as the ideal speaker for the event.