The Future of Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Developers vs Generative AI?

Our modern world is highly interconnected thanks to technology. Artificial intelligence has become ubiquitous from airplanes soaring in the sky to ATMs dispensing cash to customers.

Even in agriculture, drones are being used to scan areas and identify the type of soil, leading to endless possibilities for what can be grown.

Since the advent of the internet, there has been a growing buzz surrounding the emergence of generative AI. We have moved from initial skepticism to a newfound excitement, and our interactions with technology have reached a whole new level.

It is clear that Open AI has become a global sensation.

Is it possible to discuss advancements in artificial intelligence without bringing up the name of renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil? According to Kurzweil, AI is expected to surpass human intelligence and pass the Turing test by 2029.

He also predicts that by 2045, humans will merge with the AI we have created - a concept he refers to as "The Singularity".

In 2023, Open AI is still a global sensation. According to a report by the eternal IBM, the cost of a data breach in 2023 is $4.45 million! So, how should we keep pace with all the challenges we face as developers?

Is it possible for developers to embrace collaboration with AI without feeling overshadowed or restricted? Should we view AI as a competitor or an ally in advancing technology?

Let’s dive in!

1. Developers and Generative AI Collaboration

As developers, it's important to view generative AI tools as collaborators rather than threats. Previously, we relied on pair programming to improve our work, but now with a simple code extension in our IDE, we can use generated code to enhance our output.

A trained model can help us write less code by making us productive!

Even if life becomes easier for developers than ever before, there are some questions some ask themselves: Is the code generated accurately? How can I become productive with some gaps?

To code with generative AI, fundamentals of coding are required; it will not make someone productive with some gaps. Developers with deep knowledge will deliver some work quickly in a world where agility is the answer!

When the car was created, the goal was not to replace the workforce with traditional means; it created more jobs and a great industry. The same applies to generative AI. It’s a not threat for developers nor a replacement, but a great way to improve their work.

With deep knowledge, a great developer will know when a generated code is not accurate based on his need and will modify the scripts. Deep thinking is performed by humans; an AI tool will just suggest a solution so we won’t have to do all the work.

2. Secure Coding Opportunities for Developers

The revolution started as hype; for some analysts, a fad! Now, it’s part of our daily life, at work, at home, and everywhere we go.

According to a study by Allied market research, the market size of generative AI is projected to reach $191.8 billion by 2032! As soon as the market will continue to grow, there will be cyber attacks coming from black hat hackers to exploit weaknesses.

Truth be told, everything is hackable! Developers with strong knowledge of security will secure the code on every app or platform developed; secure coders will be in demand everywhere to thwart cybercriminals.

If generative will secure the code in the future, secure coders will review every project before shipping worldwide. AI has some limits, no matter the adoption we have. Now, we should be cyber-wise. A collaboration between AI and humans will secure the digital world; we don’t have to rely only on one component.

Thousands of planes fly daily worldwide, powered with AI; is it a threat to pilots? They let the autopilot do the job, and their task is now to monitor the flight and assure a secure flight for passengers.

No threat to the workforce!

3. How to Train the Future Workforce of Secure Coders

There will be major cyber threats in the coming years; we are just in the beginning of the revolution.

The best way to prepare is now; developers can improve their knowledge of secure coding practices for a safer cyber world. For example, some capture the flags competitions are organized around the world with real-world scenarios.

By playing, developers with a focus on secure coding will get a bird’s eye view of the industry, how secure coding is hard and requires deep practices and skilled teams to prevent attacks because somewhere in the world, a bad guy is watching to exploit an app or platforms with weaknesses.

Secure coding is the way to go, with more continuous learning and improvement for teams.

4. Is AI Faster Than Regulations?

Europe is considered a champion of regulations since the launch of the legal framework in 2018 known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which sets rules for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals within the European Union; it’s not a slogan!

It helps regulators protect users’ privacy and sanction big tech companies if they infringe on some laws.

The pace at which AI is going will give regulators a headache to adapt to different innovations and how to apply the laws. AI is faster than regulations, things change daily, and adaptability will be the way to go.

In the age of generative AI, generated data could be a picture, a code, or a text; are we worried about how work is generated without our consent? What questions do regulators ask themselves?

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, would have to comply with transparency requirements:

• How to prevent the model to generate illegal content?

• Is the content generated with AI?

• Are the models transparent and non-discriminatory?

Each country around the world has its laws, and sometimes, they might be similar to the European Union. For better regulation, research and collaborations between stakeholders will improve the use of AI tools and more transparency.

The revolution will continue to bring more innovations. Let’s be cyber-wise for a better digital world.