Europe launches AI test platform to find cybersecurity flaws in hospitals, banks, and power grids
It’s building its own AI cybersecurity arsenal.
Surgeon is seated at the operating table. Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images.
- The European Commission will create a secure AI testing platform to find cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical sectors like hospitals, banks, and power grids.
- The plan includes launching the EU Grand Challenge on AI for cybersecurity to unite security firms, researchers, and organizations to develop AI defense solutions.
- Europe aims to reduce dependence on American AI technology by building its own cybersecurity AI capabilities and AI chip gigafactories.
- AI cuts both ways in cybersecurity: hackers use it to automate attacks faster, but defenders can also use it to detect threats earlier.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The European Commission has announced a plan – a secure AI testing platform that will detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical sectors like finance, energy, healthcare, transport, and public administration.
According to the EU's executive branch, AI models are redefining cybersecurity in both positive and negative ways.
For example, AI can be misused to exploit vulnerabilities, automate cyberattacks, and increase the scale and speed of cyber incidents, shortening the time window for security experts to act when their employers are under attack.
On the other hand, AI technology can also be used to identify vulnerabilities, detect cyberattacks early, improve software products, and protect users from scammers.
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However, most of the current AI models have been developed by American tech companies. To become less dependent on the US, the European Commission argues, homegrown expertise is needed.
To achieve this, the Commission has unveiled an Action Plan to improve cybersecurity and adopt AI technology to that end.
In collaboration with the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), the European Commission will create a “secure platform” to test AI for cybersecurity. This includes using simulated environments to safely use AI technology in critical sectors, such as finance, energy, health, transport, and public administration.
To boost cyber hygiene practices and risk management measures, organizations should start using already existing AI capabilities to identify and fix vulnerabilities faster, and to prevent and respond to cyber threats.
In addition, the European Commission intends to launch the EU Grand Challenge on AI for cybersecurity. The EU’s executive arm aims to bring security companies, researchers, and organizations closer together to develop AI solutions to improve cybersecurity.
“AI is transforming the meaning of cybersecurity. And we must keep pace. The EU has strong foundations in place to adapt its response in the face of vulnerabilities that emerging tech brings with it. We must harness and focus existing capabilities, networks, and the legal framework to fortify the cybersecurity protecting our digital landscape,” Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, says in a statement.
In the meantime, the European Commission will continue developing its own AI capabilities to become “a global leader in AI,” for example, by setting up multiple gigafactories with state-of-the-art AI chips.