By offering free artificial intelligence (AI) tools, Google aims to take a stand against the escalating use of AI in cybercrime and cybersecurity. This week, Google, under Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Google Drive, announced plans to provide open-source AI-powered tools for identifying malware and detecting potential online threats, according to Bloomberg.

Counter Cyber Threats: Google disclosed its intention to release a white paper at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, outlining its use of AI for cyber defense. This paper will advocate for advanced AI research and regulations relating to autonomous cyber defenses. Kent Walker, the president for global affairs at Alphabet, stated, “Our AI Cyber Defense Initiative reverses the ‘defender’s dilemma,’ where defenders have to be right all the time and attackers have to be right only once. To keep up the momentum, we need policies that both mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities of AI.”

Furthermore, apart from releasing open-source AI tools, Google will make additional investments in research grants and partnerships to advance AI-focused cybersecurity research initiatives.

This strategic move from Google arrives at a juncture when cybercriminals are increasingly harnessing AI to streamline their malevolent operations. An alarming report from Microsoft Corporation highlighted that state-sponsored criminal groups are leveraging advanced language models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to elevate their tactics and address technical challenges.

The AI Predicament: The escalating use of AI in cybercrime has emerged as a critical concern. Experts have flagged the potential for AI tools like ChatGPT to be utilized for cybercrime. Oded Vanunu, head of products vulnerabilities research at Check Point Software, cautioned, “ChatGPT4 can empower bad actors, even non-technical ones, with the tools to speed up and validate their activity.”

In previous instances, hackers were found exploiting Bing’s AI chatbot to dupe users into divulging personal information, prompting calls for stringent AI regulations to mitigate potential risks. Nonetheless, AI has also demonstrated its significance in identifying and combatting hackers perpetrating threats against critical infrastructure. U.S. intelligence agencies have increasingly turned to AI to trace cyber intrusions, particularly those from Chinese hackers.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.