Man in Japan arrested for creating virus using generative AI systems

The crafted virus was designed to do things such as encrypt data on targeted systems and demand cryptocurrency as ransom. — Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

TOKYO: A 25-year-old unemployed man from Kawasaki has been arrested for allegedly creating a computer virus by using interactive generative artificial intelligence (AI) available online. This is believed to be the first case in Japan related to the creation of viruses using generative AI systems.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested Ryuki Hayashi on May 27 on suspicion of making of electric or magnetic records containing unauthorised commands. He is believed to have used his home computer and smartphone to combine information about creating malware programs obtained after giving instructions to several generative AI systems in March 2023, according to investigators.