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Technology

Hackers are using AI to find software bugs - but there is a downside

Artificial intelligence models similar to ChatGPT are able to identify errors in computer code, letting people claim rewards for finding them - but others are using the same tools to report bugs that don't actually exist

By Alex Wilkins

28 May 2024

Some bugs are easier to find than others

alengo/Getty Images

Ethical hackers are using artificial intelligence tools to find bugs in computer code and claim rewards worth thousands of dollars. However, others are using the same AI tools to generate realistic but nonsensical bug reports, making it hard to know which reports to trust.

Bug bounty schemes offer financial rewards for people who can find flaws in software. These schemes have been used in cybersecurity for decades to encourage people to report problems so programmers can shore up security, both in established tech companies, like Microsoft or Google, and…

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