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I’ve mentioned AI (Artificial Intelligence) a few times recently – e.g here and here.
I also believe that when an innovation hits the front page of a mainstream newspaper, it’s a clear sign that we are moving from niche interest to mainstream disruption.
The headline is here
So, on that point, here’s the headline from the (Irish edition of) The Sunday Times last weekend.
The disruption is here
According to the article, colleges are worried about the integrity of exams due to the recent release of ChatGPT, which enables students to generate plausible answers to the typical questions asked by lecturers.
Apparently, in response to the threat, many colleges are considering a return to pen-and-paper exams.
The immediate response is understandable
In the face of a disruptive innovation, those being disrupted need to respond quickly or become irrelevant.
The easiest response is to try to block the innovation, by returning to an era before the innovation (and its predecessors) existed.
It may be the only short-term response for organisations or industries that are heavily invested in maintaining the status quo.
The effective response is different
The article does not mention any colleges looking at ways to leverage the innovation so they and their students are more effective.
For example:
- Personalised learning: AI-powered adaptive learning algorithms could provide personalised learning experiences for each student, catering to their unique needs and learning styles.
- Tutoring and assessment: AI-powered tutoring systems and automated assessments could provide students with instant feedback, allowing them to identify and correct misconceptions and misunderstandings.
- Predictive analytics: AI-powered predictive analytics could help identify at-risk students and provide early interventions to help them stay on track.
- Curriculum development: AI could be used to analyse large amounts of data on student performance and learning outcomes, which can help educators improve their curriculum and teaching methods.
As an aside: If you haven’t tried ChatGPT, you don’t need to – You can see its capabilities above. ChatGPT wrote this list!
What has this got to do with cybersecurity?
I won’t discuss my own (currently under-informed) opinion about where AI is taking us– I’d hate to ruin your week!
For now, let’s focus on the impact of AI on cybersecurity.
Fact 1: AI is here.
Fact 2: AI is only going to get better and faster. And this will happen at an exponential rate.
Fact 3: Unlike the initial response of colleges, the bad guys are certainly looking at ways to leverage this disruptive innovation right now to find better ways to get at our data and our money.
If AI is not something you think about, this will change in 2023.
At a minimum, make sure AI is on your radar (and in your risk register), because AI will pose significant risks to your cybersecurity.