Cybersecurity AIs: From PentestGPT to Building an AI-Powered Robot Immune System
Cybersecurity is on the verge of a radical transformation, driven by the rise of Generative AI (GenAI). Within the next five years, human-led penetration testing will give way to AI-powered solutions, and offensive security actions will be teleoperated or fully automated. GenAI companies are already undermining the security capabilities in their models to avoid public backlash, leaving critical gaps in defense.* In this talk, Víctor Mayoral Vilches will present his groundbreaking work on the „Levels of Autonomy in Cybersecurity,” a framework that maps the shift from human-led pentesting to fully autonomous Cybersecurity AIs. He begins with PentestGPT, an open-source AI tool launched in 2023 that assists with offensive security planning and sparked widespread controversy. From there, Víctor will explore semi-automated tools before introducing the Robot Immune System (RIS), a cutting-edge, AI-driven security solution. RIS employs Artificial Intelligence and Game Theory to autonomously understand, predict, and mitigate cyber threats in real time, evolving dynamically to meet the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. Originally developed for robotics, RIS has expanded its reach to IT and OT environments, fueled by the latest advances in GenAI. Víctor will conclude with insights into his team’s current research, which is focused on advancing these Cybersecurity AIs to comply with the European Union’s NIS2 and AI Act, paving the way for a future where AI not only defends but outsmarts cyber adversaries.
AI Summary
Key facts
- Alias Robotics is a leading firm in robot cybersecurity, located in the Basque region of Spain.
- PentestGPT was an early attempt to use AI for automating the planning phase of cybersecurity, leveraging GPT 3.5.
- The Robot Immune System (RIS) is an antivirus developed by Alias Robotics, installed inside robots to protect them from cyber threats.
- Cybersecurity AIs are expected to dominate the security space by 2028, according to studies.
Ideas
- The creation of PentestGPT was an early attempt to automate the planning phase of security activities using AI, demonstrating the potential to lower the entry barrier for penetration testing.
- The Robot Immune System (RIS) is an antivirus for robots, protecting them from cyber threats by staying updated with new threats, showcasing a proactive approach to robotics cybersecurity.
- The development of cybersecurity AI (CIS) that can automate everything end-to-end, including planning, scanning, reconnaissance, exploitation, and mitigation, represents a significant advancement in the field.
- The future of cybersecurity lies in AI-powered systems, with predictions that by 2028, cybersecurity AIs will dominate the security space, emphasizing the importance of current investments in this direction.
- The use of game theoretic approaches and advanced AI models to optimize cybersecurity tasks suggests a move towards more efficient and effective cybersecurity solutions.
Keywords
- Robotics
- Cybersecurity
- AI
- PentestGPT
- Robot Immune System
Quotes
- “robots are systems of systems networks of networks”
- “we've been developing this for quite a while, secured more than 46 leading robot endpoints”
- “by 2028, cybersecurity AIs will take over the security space”
- “we are Alias robotics we are the world's leading robot cyber security firm and we're building cyber security AIS to protect our robotic future and beyond”
Recommendations
- Investing in AI-powered cybersecurity solutions now is crucial for staying ahead in the security space.
- Organizations should consider the implementation of endpoint protection platforms like RIS for their robotic systems to enhance their cybersecurity posture.
About the speaker
Víctor Mayoral Vilches
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