The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about the potential for “cyber-physical attacks,” where hackers can cause physical damage to infrastructure. The FBI has warned that Chinese hackers are targeting critical infrastructure in the U.S. Experts like Stuart Madnick from MIT have expressed concerns about the next phase of cybercrime involving physical attacks, which could result in more than just system downtime. Simulations have shown that such attacks could cause explosions and substantial downtime. While the technology for such attacks exists, the main deterrent is the lack of motivation, as such attacks would be equivalent to declaring war. However, the threat level varies among experts, with some fearing that AI could make it easier for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in industrial and healthcare systems. Despite the potential threats, AI also plays a crucial role in enhancing cyber defenses by analyzing vast amounts of data in real-time and identifying malicious activity.
