Microsoft adopts latest AI in cyber defense

By Kuksung Nam, The Readable
Mar. 29, 2023 7:55PM GMT+9 Updated Mar. 30, 2023 7:36PM GMT+9

Microsoft launched an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to ease the workload of cybersecurity professionals.

According to a press release on Tuesday, Microsoft explained that the new tool named “Security Copilot” will act as an assistant for cybersecurity experts. Just like a real-world copilot assists the captain during the flight, the tech giant said that the new product can help professionals to efficiently pick out the important information within the massive volume of data in cyberspace.

As shown in a demonstration video on the company’s YouTube Channel, users can type their request in a prompt box, and the Copilot will use the AI to generate a response in human-like text, which works similar to a chatbot. Users can make requests for the summarizing of cyber incidents or the analyzing of data and vulnerabilities. The company stated that the responses will be generated by using both the customer organization’s security data and Microsoft’s threat analysis capabilities, which could receive 65 trillion threat signals every day.

The tech giant is also incorporating the latest technology of OpenAI, the research laboratory behind the development of ChatGPT, to support users’ requests. The latest AI model of OpenAI, GPT-4, can handle more complex tasks than its predecessor, which the ChatGPT is based on.

“The volume and velocity of attacks requires us to continually create new technologies that can tip the scales in favor of defenders,” said Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s security, compliance, identity, and management, in a blog post on March 28. “Security professionals are scarce, and we must empower them to disrupt attackers’ traditional advantages.”

This launch also comes in line with Microsoft’s intense interest in advanced AI technologies. The company has been investing in OpenAI for years and early this year announced an additional multibillion dollar investment in the ChatGPT owner. Furthermore, the company fused the latest AI technology into its search engine Bing in February.

nam@thereadable.co

The cover image of this article was designed by Sangseon Kim.
This article has been updated to improve readability of the content.


Kuksung Nam is a journalist for The Readable. She has extensively traversed the globe to cover the latest stories on the cyber threat landscape and has been producing in-depth stories on security and privacy by engaging with industry giants, foreign government officials and experts. Before joining The Readable, Kuksung reported on politics for one of South Korea’s top-five local newspapers, The Kyeongin Ilbo. Her journalistic skills and reportage earned her the coveted Journalists Association of Korea award in 2021 for her essay detailing exclusive stories about the misconduct of a former government official. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in French from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, a testament to her linguistic capabilities.