Why AI is a big problem for school cybersecurity

Many school districts are ill-prepared to defend themselves against the growing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks, a problem that has been exacerbated by federal government cuts to programs that support school cybersecurity, experts say.

Here is the heart of the problem: Just as educators have turned to generative AI tools to craft emails, conduct research, and analyze large amounts of data, so too have cybercriminals, who are using the technology to optimize attacks, said Don Ringelestein, the executive director of technology for Yorkville 115, a school district near Chicago.

“AI is billed as something that’s going to save us time. It’s going to be an assistant for us,” he said. “Well, that same thing applies to hackers. It’s going make their jobs easier.”

Read more at Education Week