Scientists are using generative AI to accelerate a key step in the defense against cyberattacks, performing complex operations in minutes instead of weeks. The team led by Loc Truong at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is using generative AI to reconstruct complex cyberattacks. These reconstructions are a crucial component of digital defense: Cybersecurity professionals need to understand exactly how an attack occurred to be sure they can stop it. “To really protect against an attack, you need to replicate it,” said Truong, a data scientist. “When an attack happens, usually a defender simply receives a text document explaining the attack, but someone needs to re-implement the entire attack. That can be a lengthy process and cost a lot of money. We hope to change that.” The work comes at a time when hackers and other bad actors have unfettered access to advanced generative AI tools, muddying the cyber landscape. PNNL cybersecurity researcher Kristopher Willis, who works on the project with Truong, noted that AI is part of the approach of some of the best hackers across industry, academia and government.

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