Cybersecurity in the age of AI

In a rapidly digitizing society,

AI is becoming a major player in cybersecurity, dramatically altering the balance between attackers and defenders. Recent large-scale hacks and data leaks in the Netherlands show how much society depends on secure digital infrastructure. AI enables attackers to generate convincing fake voices and images, scale phishing campaigns, and probe systems for vulnerabilities faster and more decisively than ever. But the AI systems we use daily can also be attacked. With the right sequence of words, a large language model can be manipulated to ignore its rules, leak data, or execute instructions it was never meant to follow. Yet AI also shows great promise in helping defenders detect attacks and protect digital systems. The same technology cuts both ways. So, who has the upper hand: attackers or defenders? Can we trust AI to protect us from AI?
 
On Monday, October 12, these questions take centre stage at the Science Café Nijmegen. Stjepan Picek (University of Zagreb & Radboud University) will take us behind the scenes of modern cybersecurity, showing how AI changes what attackers and security experts can do. Willem Jan de Voogd (TNO) will discuss how we protect privacy, how much decision-making we delegate to AI, and how organizations can keep meaningful control as they grow more dependent on these systems. Together, they will explore the opportunities, risks, and surprises that arise when artificial intelligence enters the battle for our digital security.
 
When you need it most, Raaf Modular will turn on the synthesizers to infuse the evening with the right soundtrack, blending rhythmic electronic beats with atmospheric ambiance.