As AI agents evolve, cybersecurity experts warn that they could become tools for hackers and pose unprecedented risks. Meanwhile, celebrities like Vince Gilligan have voiced their disdain for AI-generated content. In a contrasting movement, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative aims to harness AI for breakthrough medical advances.
AI agent or hacker’s best friend?
Cybersecurity experts have warned that artificial intelligence agents, widely considered the next frontier in the generative AI revolution, could be hijacked and left to do dirty work for hackers. According to a report by AFP, the ability to give commands to the AI agent using easy-to-understand language allows even non-technical people to perform the prank. These so-called injection attacks are not new to the hacker world, but previously required well-written and hidden computer code to cause damage. But as AI tools have evolved from tools that simply generate text, images, and video to “agents” that can independently explore the Internet, the potential for them to be usurped by prompts injected by hackers has increased.
Vince Gilligan hates AI
If you’ve watched the heartwarming new Apple TV+ show Plur1bus, you may have noticed a disclaimer in the credits that says, “This show was created by humans.” The show’s creator, Vince Gilligan, previously known for cult favorites Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has publicly expressed his disdain for AI-generated content. In a recent interview, he described generative AI as “the world’s most expensive, energy-intensive plagiarism machine” and likened AI content to “a ruminating cow, an endless loop of nonsense that gets regurgitated.” Plur1bus fans are speculating that the “hive mind” at the center of the show actually represents Gen AI.
Zhang Zak wants AI to treat diseases
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan that aims to cure all diseases, recently announced a reorganization to focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve its goals. The move narrows the charity’s focus, with its priority now being to fund scientific teams concentrated at facilities called biohubs. According to a blog post from the foundation, BioHub envisions how AI will help advance methods of disease detection, prevention, and treatment. The mission includes an attempt to model the human immune system, which could open the door to “engineering human health.”
