GenAI: benefits and risks in the use of generative artificial intelligence

The CEO of McAfee, an online security company known for its antivirus software, highlighted the increasingly widespread use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to improve employee productivity and counter online threats. However, Greg Johnson also sees the dark side of this technology. He says the same tools that can write music or generate essays in seconds can also provide a huge advantage to scammers and hackers, representing a democratization of computing power for individuals with shady purposes. Johnson points to the increasing quality and sophistication of phishing scams, arguing that GenAI is helping bad actors refine and multiply their schemes.

Technological progress and rapid change in the digital landscape

Johnson argues that technological progress is leading to continuous changes in the digital landscape. He says the spread of technologies like GenAI accelerates the change that consumers must face to keep up. McAfee is adapting to this scenario by using artificial intelligence to improve innovation, employee productivity, and the speed of business movement. Despite the benefits GenAI offers, Johnson notes that cybersecurity risks are "exploding," requiring McAfee to protect customers from such threats.

Digital security: a crucial need in modern society

According to Johnson, the pandemic has forced many people to rely more on the digital environment for work, school and other activities, thus increasing the need for online safety. This has created momentum in the cybersecurity industry, but Johnson says this cannot last long. With the economic recovery underway, prices are rising and some people are looking to reduce expenses, including investing in digital security. McAfee therefore faces the challenge of making consumers understand that cyber threats continue to circulate and that online security is a crucial need in modern society.

The GenAI paradox: benefits and associated risks

Despite the risks associated with the use of GenAI which can generate increasingly sophisticated scams, it seems unlikely that many people will give up the online habits they have developed. Johnson says GenAI brings significant benefits to consumers' daily lives but, paradoxically, this also translates into benefits for scammers. The goal, according to the McAfee CEO, is to make consumers understand that some of their online habits, although aimed at improving the quality of life, can actually cause problems.