South Korean President suggests AI could be used in cyberattacks on the financial sector

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Tuesday that artificial intelligence may have been used in recent cyberattacks targeting the country’s financial sector, as police launched an investigation into the incidents.

At least seven financial institutions, including banks, reported data breaches in recent days.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lee Jae-myung said, “There are indications that AI was used in several cyberattacks, causing great concern among Koreans.”

He noted that “AI has made cyberattacks easier, even for individuals without specialized skills.”

A government official, speaking to Agence France-Presse, suggested that the cyberattacks may have been carried out using “Arctic AI,” an open-source tool that observers say is Chinese.