Microsoft supports DARPA's AI cyber challenge, $150K worth of Azure credits up for grab

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Key notes

  • DARPA launches AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) to fight cyber threats with AI.
  • Microsoft supports AIxCC by offering access to powerful AI models on Azure.
  • Participating teams can leverage Azure’s AI, receive cloud credits, and access Microsoft business tools.

Microsoft announced its participation in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC). This can develop new solutions for safeguarding critical infrastructure from cyber threats by leveraging AI.

AI can enhance cybersecurity through improved threat intelligence and automated remediation techniques. The AIxCC will bring together leading experts in AI and cybersecurity to develop such solutions.

Microsoft will contribute by providing participating teams with access to its advanced AI models on Microsoft Azure. These models can be customized by the teams to address specific challenges.

Innovation with AI and cybersecurity is even more important for areas like critical infrastructure where the stakes are the highest. We’ve observed increasing infrastructure attacks in locations such as Ukraine where our threat intelligence teams had tracked multiple waves of cyberattacks. We’re putting this learning into action by supporting the AI Cyber Challenge to help the nation protect critical infrastructure, spanning financial systems to public utilities, from cyber threats.

The announcement show the importance of AI in protecting critical infrastructure, particularly in light of recent cyberattacks.

To encourage participation, Microsoft will offer some big resources to competing teams. This includes access to Azure credits valued at $150,000, granting them the use of Azure and OpenAI technologies. 

Teams will also receive access to valuable Microsoft business products like GitHub Enterprise, with a combined value exceeding $200,000.

For more information on the AIxCC Challenge, please visit aicyberchallenge.com. Microsoft also invites interested parties to subscribe for updates on cybersecurity advancements and AI developments.

More here.