Malware Actors Exploit AI Craze: Chatgpt Is the New Crypto, Meta Says

• Meta, the corporation behind Facebook, has found that malware purveyors are now exploiting public interest in Chatgpt, Openai’s chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to entice users into downloading malicious apps and browser extensions.
• According to its head of information security, the AI-based chatbot is “the new crypto” for bad actors and the social media giant is preparing for various abuses.
• In a recent interview, entrepreneur and investor Elon Musk accused Openai, the developer of Chatgpt which he helped found, of “training the AI to lie.” He also announced plans to create a rival to the offerings of tech giants which he called “Truthgpt.”

Malware Exploiting Interest in Chatgpt

Meta, the corporation behind Facebook, has found that malware purveyors are now exploiting public interest in Chatgpt, Openai’s chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to entice users into downloading malicious apps and browser extensions. The company has identified around 10 malware families and over 1,000 malicious links that have been promoted as tools featuring Chatgpt since March. According to its head of information security, the AI-based chatbot is “the new crypto” for bad actors and the social media giant is preparing for various abuses.

Rise in Malware Inspired by Chatgpt

In some of the cases reported by Meta, malicious files delivered working Chatgpt functionality alongside abusive files. At a press conference on Wednesday on these findings Chief Information Security Officer Guy Rosen likened this phenomenon to crypto-themed scams saying “ChatGPT is the new crypto”. Other Meta executives mentioned that they were preparing defenses against potential abuses related to generative AI technologies like ChatGPT as its popularity rises rapidly.

Concerns Over Online Disinformation Campaigns

The increasing usage of platforms like Microsoft-funded chatbot have raised concerns among authorities worldwide about how such tools could make it easier for online disinformation campaigns with experts warning about potential abuse stemming from generative AI technologies.

G7 Digital Ministers’ Agreement

At their meeting in Japan at the end of April G7 digital ministers agreed that their developed nations should adopt regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) models which are risk based but still enable development in this field technologies such as ChatGPT.

Elon Musk’s Interview & TruthGPT

Elon Musk was interviewed recently where he accused Openai -the developer of ChatGPT which he founded-, of “training AI to lie” while announcing his plans on creating a rival platform called TruthGPT -in response to tech giants offerings-.