Malicious use and abuse (cyberattacks)

Regulating under Uncertainty: Governance Options for Generative AI

G'sell (2024)

Source DOI

Sub-category

Risk Domain

4Malicious Actors & Misuse

4.2Cyberattacks, weapon development or use, and mass harm

Using AI systems to develop cyber weapons (e.g., by coding cheaper, more effective malware), develop new or enhance existing weapons (e.g., Lethal Autonomous Weapons or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives), or use weapons to cause mass harm.

"Generative AI can help amplify the frequency and destructiveness of cyberattacks.311 It has the capacity “to increase the accessibility, success rate, scale, speed, stealth, and potency of cyberattacks. It enables the identification of critical vulnerabilities within targeted systems, facilitates the increase of the scale of cyberattacks, and accelerates the process by discovering innovative methods of system infiltration. Cyberattacks can inflict significant damage and may impact critical infrastructure, including electrical grids, financial systems, and weapons management systems."(p. 73)

Entity— Who or what caused the harm

Human

Due to a decision or action made by humans

AI system

Due to a decision or action made by an AI system

Other

Due to some other reason or is ambiguous

Intent— Whether the harm was intentional or accidental

Intentional

Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal

Unintentional

Due to an unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal