As AI continues to reshape industries worldwide, a key question remains: Can its transformative power be harnessed responsibly? In a virtual media briefing hosted by EY Consulting, experts gathered to explore just how businesses can leverage AI’s potential while ensuring its ethical use and minimizing potential harm.
Leveraging AI for cybersecurity
Jeremy Pizzala, EY’s Asia-Pacific Cybersecurity Consulting Leader, emphasized how generative AI could enhance cyber defenses. “Businesses, governments, and societies face increasing attacks from cybercriminals, such as the alarming rise in ransomware,” he said. Pizzala noted that tools like Microsoft Copilot are being embedded into security operations centers, enabling cyber defenders to analyze and respond to threats almost instantly. “The power of generative AI allows defenders to access insights at their fingertips, which previously required consulting databases or colleagues,” he explained.
However, Pizzala also expressed concerns about how AI could lower barriers for cybercriminals. “Malicious actors can use generative AI to create ransomware or malware in seconds. While mainstream tools like ChatGPT impose ethical restrictions, underground platforms are providing access to AI-driven tools for generating malicious code,” he warned.
AI’s imperfections
Dr. Sooyeon Kim, EY’s Asia-Pacific Technology Consulting Artificial Intelligence Leader, addressed the complexities of AI reliability. “AI is imperfect due to ever-changing relationships across data points,” she said. Kim stressed the importance of human oversight in determining when to retrain AI models and when to trust their outputs. “We may need complementary information to guide decisions on whether AI’s insights are trustworthy,” she added.
AI and sustainability
Neil Cherry, EY’s Asia-Pacific Consulting Technology Field of Play Leader, highlighted AI’s role in sustainability initiatives. “AI is being used for climate modeling and better predictions,” he said, citing its application in renewable energy operations. Cherry emphasized AI’s potential in addressing environmental challenges, such as reducing the two billion tons of waste annually. “To achieve sustainability goals, avoiding fossil fuels is a clear course of action,” he concluded.
the Greater Bay Area’s potential as an AI hub
The briefing also explored Hong Kong’s prospects as a regional AI hub. Pizzala highlighted the city’s advantages, including its established legal framework based on common law, which fosters trust and confidence for businesses. “Hong Kong’s strong legal and commercial arbitration capabilities are critical assets for organizations looking to innovate in AI,” he said. Additionally, Hong Kong’s integration with the Greater Bay Area (GBA) offers significant opportunities. “The GBA facilitates collaboration with sister cities and access to Mainland China’s vast data resources, which are crucial for training large language models essential to generative AI,” Pizzala explained. These factors position Hong Kong as a strategic hub for AI innovation, combining local strengths with regional connectivity.
