President of South Korea believes AI models were used in bank hacks

South Korean officials are investigating potential involvement of artificial intelligence in recent cyberattacks on banks in the country. President Lee Jae Myung revealed on Tuesday that "signs have emerged" suggesting AI models were used in some of the cyberattacks, causing significant public concern and anxiety. He instructed his Cabinet to investigate promptly and thoroughly, as well as to allocate resources to minimize the damage.

The National Office of Investigation has initiated an inquiry into several cyberattacks against financial institutions, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank, where customer information was leaked. Shinhan Bank disclosed that the personal credit information of around 25,000 individuals was stolen, while Hana Bank and Kookmin Bank reported that 89 customers and 99 customers and 20 current or former employees, respectively, had their data compromised.

World leaders are grappling with the rapid advancements of AI, as concerns grow over the ease with which these agents can be used for malicious purposes, and whether existing laws can keep up with the fast-evolving technology.