Cyber security and artificial intelligence: from fixing the plumbing to smart water

ABSTRACT

Computer security and artificial intelligence in their early days didn't seem to have much to say to each other. AI researchers were interested in making computers do things that only humans had been able to do, while security researchers aimed to fix the leaks in the plumbing of the computing infrastructure or to design infrastructures they deemed leakproof. Further, AI researchers were often most interested in building systems with behaviors that could change over time through learning or adaptation, and hence were to some degree unpredictable. From the standpoint of security, unpredictable system behavior generally seemed undesirable.

But the two fields have grown closer over the years, particularly where attacks have aimed to simulate legitimate behaviors, not only at the level of human users but also at lower system layers. This talk will cover a bit of the history of computer security and artificial intelligence, identify a few connections between them, and conclude with a bit of speculation about some directions the fields might take.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.5 Security and Protection (D.4.6, K.4.2)
          Subjects: Unauthorized access (e.g., hacking, phreaking)

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.5 Security and Protection (D.4.6, K.4.2)
          Subjects: Authentication

General Terms:
Algorithms, Security, Theory

Keywords:
artificial intelligence, privacy, security