Armed with Artificial Intelligence, Hackers and the Guardians of IT Square Off on a New Digital Battleground

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the latest front in the war to protect systems, programs and networks from digital attacks, and it has galvanized the attention of a cybersecurity industry. Venture capital funds are pouring money into cybersecurity startups employing AI, and the emphasis on utilizing AI to prevent digital intrusions is fueling debate and discussion. Unfortunately, AI is also giving sophisticated hackers the ability to launch advanced assaults that can detect and evade defensive tactics.

This article explores the virtual ‘‘battle of the bots’’, which is only going to accelerate, given the pace of technological advances and the skyrocketing number of interconnected digital devices.