Sridhar Vembu warns AI's falling costs will empower cyber attackers

Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu has highlighted the dual nature of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, noting that declining AI token costs will simultaneously empower attackers and defenders. Speaking at the Indian Army-CyberPeace Terrier Cyber Quest 3.0 Conclave, Vembu warned that lower costs for super intelligence make sophisticated cyber capabilities more accessible to malicious actors.

To counter these threats, Vembu urged a shift from the traditional 'whack-a-mole' approach of patching vulnerabilities to the development of 'provably secure systems.' He suggested that AI could be used to mathematically or technically demonstrate that vulnerabilities do not exist, allowing for the creation of inherently secure digital infrastructures. He noted that India has a significant opportunity to lead in this space by leveraging its existing strengths in software development and code verification.