29 November 2024, Fri |
1:40 PM
Black Hat MEA 2024, held at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham, focused on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity. Thousands of hackers gathered for the largest Capture the Flag Hackathon, aiming to break the Guinness World Record, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s status as a global cybersecurity hub.
Insights from Industry Leaders at Executive Summit
Dr. Kevin Jones, Group Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Bayer, delivered a keynote on the role of AI in transforming healthcare and agriculture. He highlighted how AI is reducing product development time and enhancing global patient detection through Bayer’s ‘My Genesis’ platform. Jones emphasized the importance of generative AI, predicting that the technology could revolutionize industries like life sciences with a potential market value between US$250 billion and US$450 billion.
He also discussed the complexities of global cybersecurity regulations, urging companies to adopt AI tools and comply with evolving laws to navigate the future of AI-enabled enterprises.
Human-AI Collaboration: A Vision from the CIA
Jennifer Ewbank, former Director of Digital Innovation at the CIA, shared a vision of how human ingenuity and AI can collaborate to solve global challenges. Ewbank argued that AI should augment human capabilities, not replace them, and that human expertise is crucial for ethical AI development. By embracing AI as a partner, she believes we can tackle issues such as climate change, poverty, and disease.
Cybersecurity Challenges and Generative AI
Kiran PP, a self-taught cyber specialist and two-time NASA hacker, warned about the cybersecurity risks posed by Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. He explained how hackers might exploit these technologies to infiltrate networks, urging caution when using AI tools and recommending “human-in-the-loop” controls to mitigate risks.
World Record-Breaking Capture the Flag Hackathon
The second day also featured the continued Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, with over 1,000 participants from 250 teams. After a qualification round in September with 5,000 participants, teams competed in categories like Web, Reverse Engineering, Cryptography, and Forensics for a share of the US$266,000 prize pool.
Exciting Competitions and Bootcamps at Black Hat MEA
The CyberSurge Bootcamp, a partnership between Black Hat MEA, Tahaluf, and the Centre for Finance, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (CFTE), continued to train participants in cybersecurity entrepreneurship. The programme covers the entire startup journey, from ideation to launch, providing insights into the Saudi cybersecurity market.
Annabelle Mander, Senior Vice President at Tahaluf, commented, “The integration of AI in cybersecurity is a hot topic, and Black Hat MEA serves as an ideal platform for global experts to discuss its implications.”
Opportunities for Cybersecurity Startups
A highlight of Thursday’s events will be the Cyberseed Pitch Competition, where eight selected startups will compete for a grand prize of US$30,000. The competition offers a valuable opportunity for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding from leading industry investors.
As Black Hat MEA heads into its final day, the excitement continues to build, with record-breaking achievements and high-level discussions shaping the future of cybersecurity in the region.
