AI Agents Move Deeper Into Offensive Cyber Operations
Autonomous artificial intelligence agents are being developed for and used in offensive cyber operations by governments and criminal groups, according to reports from security researchers and documents describing a U.S. Army program.
Documents reviewed by The Intercept show that U.S. Army Cyber Command is developing a platform called ECHOTRIBBLE for AI agents to navigate adversaries’ infrastructure, identify targets and “neutralize” them. A document for potential contractors described the program as primarily focused on offensive missions, with neutralization potentially including disabling or deleting a threat. Experts cited by The Intercept warned that current AI systems can behave unpredictably and strike unintended targets.
In Japan, GMO Internet Group’s security subsidiary said the China-linked AI penetration-testing tool ARTEX had been used in attacks targeting about 80 companies …