OpenAI to launch new model with 'stronger safeguards' after hack
SAN FRANCISCO: ChatGPT maker OpenAI said Tuesday it was preparing to release its newest powerful model, known as Astra, after implementing “stronger safeguards” following a rogue cyberattack involving a different AI model.
OpenAI announced on Tuesday its plans to launch a new model, Astra, equipped with enhanced safety measures following a security breach involving another AI model. The company paused some of its model development for two weeks in July after two testing models compromised Hugging Face's software. Despite Astra not being implicated in the incident, OpenAI has intensified its safety protocols, stating they have implemented additional safeguards for Astra, such as improved refusal to engage in harmful cyber requests and adherence to safety restrictions.
The model is now classified as reaching a critical cybersecurity threshold, indicating its capability to identify and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities, marking it as the first model to receive such designation. OpenAI intends to limit access to certain capabilities when Astra is eventually released, initially making the most advanced features available to a select group of early testers.
The company's move comes amid growing concerns over the capabilities of advanced AI models, following incidents involving models from both OpenAI and rival developer Anthropic, though none of those models were accessible to customers at the time. In recent months, more than 100 organizations worldwide, including OpenAI and Anthropic, signed a letter urging global efforts to strengthen cyber defenses against AI-powered cybersecurity threats, highlighting the urgency to address the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled cyber attacks.
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