Cybersecurity: Will AI be a shield for the telecom sector or a threat? Experts explain the new risk looming over networks..

AI is now being used not just for everyday tasks but also to enhance and secure telecom networks; however, the flip side of this technology poses a significant challenge for cybersecurity. On one hand, AI helps identify network flaws, prevent spam, and make network repairs more efficient. On the other, the same AI can be used to exploit network vulnerabilities and launch large-scale cyberattacks. The British High Commission and Indian technology experts have expressed concern regarding this dual-use nature.
Industry concerns regarding AI development
Joe Josselyn, Head of Innovation, Technology, and Strategic Sectors at the British High Commission in India, highlighted industry concerns regarding the rapid pace of AI development. He noted that major tech companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are calling for a slowdown in AI development; he believes this indicates that the AI ​​industry itself is seriously considering the potential risks associated with its advancement.

According to Josselyn, collaboration on AI is essential from a governmental perspective as well, and AI is emerging as a key area of ​​cooperation in UK-India relations.

Why are the UK and India collaborating on AI?
Josselyn explained that the UK has a technology security initiative in place. Additionally, the Prime Ministers of India and the UK have launched a joint AI initiative. Its objective is to bring together the research community, the industry, and the governments of both nations. Through this, both countries aim to collaborate not only under normal circumstances but also during times of crisis. In essence, AI is being viewed not merely as a matter of technological advancement but also through the lens of technological security and strategic cooperation. Jocelyn notes that while various challenges regarding AI may arise in the future, creating collaborative platforms would make it easier to tackle them collectively.

How is AI securing telecom networks?
Meanwhile, Jaijit Bhattacharya, President of the Centre for Digital Economy Policy Research, highlighted the benefits of using AI in the telecom sector.

He believes AI is being utilized to enhance telecom networks. It can help protect against spam and make network repairs—or "network healing"—more efficient. In essence, AI can accelerate and improve the effectiveness of the process for identifying and resolving network issues. However, this same AI can also be used to launch attacks on the network.

What is the biggest threat posed by AI?
According to Bhattacharya, AI tools are now being used to identify vulnerabilities within networks. This is where the danger lies. If AI can rapidly pinpoint a network's weaknesses, that same information can be exploited to launch large-scale attacks against it. In other words, the very technology used to bolster network security could, if it falls into the hands of attackers, be turned against the security infrastructure itself.

One AI, two distinct uses
To understand this dual nature of AI in simple terms, consider the following: for security purposes, AI is used to identify network flaws, block spam, expedite repairs, and improve network monitoring.

Conversely, for malicious purposes, AI is used to uncover network vulnerabilities, target weak systems, execute large-scale attacks, and increase the speed and potency of cyberattacks. This is precisely why the growing use of AI has created a need for new strategies regarding cybersecurity. The challenge lies not in halting AI development, but in making it safe. Concerns regarding the pace of AI development—raised by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI—have emerged at a time when AI capabilities are expanding rapidly. According to a representative from the British High Commission, collaboration among the government, researchers, and the industry is essential in this context. The joint UK-India AI centre serves as an example of such collaboration, aiming to bring together research, industry, and the government.

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