US official: North Korea utilises AI in cyber warfare

This marks the first public confirmation by a US government official regarding the use of AI in cyber warfare.

North Korea flag is depicted on the screen with the program code

US Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger has acknowledged that North Korea is using AI to escalate its cyber capabilities. This marks the first confirmation by a US government official of the use of AI in cyberwarfare.

Neuberger stated that North Korea, along with other nation states and criminal actors, is attempting to accelerate the creation of malicious software and identify exploitable systems using AI models.

Neuberger made the remarks during a digital press briefing on 18 October.

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Why does it matter?

Integrating AI into cyber operations could enhance attacks’ speed, volume, and effectiveness, increasing cyber vulnerabilities worldwide.

Regarding North Korea, the nation’s extensive history of reported hacking is a source of concern. In the last five years alone, North Korean hackers managed to steal an estimated 1.5 trillion won (equivalent to $1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets, which occurred before the emergence of generative AI.