Is AI Making the Internet More Glitchy, Spammy, and Dangerous?

[techstack]

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The internet is on the brink of a major security nightmare, thanks to AI-powered language models being recklessly integrated into tech products. A new report highlights how these models, full of vulnerabilities, can be easily exploited to launch attacks—no coding skills required.

One of the biggest risks is indirect prompt injection, where a hacker hides malicious instructions in invisible text on a website or email. AI-powered virtual assistants, now embedded in emails and calendars, can unknowingly execute these hidden commands—granting attackers access to private data or even tricking users into approving fraudulent transactions. Unlike traditional scams that rely on people clicking links, these attacks operate entirely behind the scenes.

Even AI-generated content isn’t safe. Researchers have shown that AI training data can be poisoned by injecting manipulated content, altering a model’s outputs permanently. And because AI systems scrape vast amounts of data—including existing software bugs—security flaws are becoming embedded at scale.

As more businesses rush to adopt AI-generated code, experts warn that many are unknowingly building insecure systems. With hacking incentives growing and no real solutions in sight, we’re heading straight into a digital “shitstorm” of scams, spam, and security disasters.

Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/04/04/1070938/we-are-hurtling-toward-a-glitchy-spammy-scammy-ai-powered-internet/?utm_campaign=site_visitor.unpaid.engagement&utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=tr_social

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