OpenAI has recently introduced the Cybersecurity Grant Program to facilitate the advancement and implementation of AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and tools. This initiative, announced on June 1, 2023, aims to provide financial support and additional resources to projects focused on enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of cyber defenders.
The program has a total fund of $1 million, which will be distributed in the form of $10,000 API credits and direct funds. Interested applicants have the opportunity to submit their proposals on an ongoing basis, and OpenAI will evaluate them based on their alignment with the program's core objectives.
Core Objectives of the OpenAI Cybersecurity Grant Program
- Empower defenders: The program seeks to prioritize the benefits of cutting-edge AI technologies for defenders by equipping them with tools and methods to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks effectively.
- Measure capabilities: The program aims to develop and employ metrics and methodologies for quantifying the cybersecurity capabilities of AI models. This will contribute to a better understanding of their performance and robustness, ultimately leading to improvements in their effectiveness.
- Elevate discourse: OpenAI's program is dedicated to fostering comprehensive and nuanced discussions at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. This will be achieved by promoting research, education, and collaboration among experts and stakeholders in both fields.
The Cybersecurity Grant Program is open to individuals and organizations worldwide who share OpenAI's vision for a secure and innovative AI-driven future. The program welcomes proposals that address practical applications of AI in defensive cybersecurity.
ChatGPT Bounty Program is Also Open
In April, OpenAI launched the ChatGPT Bounty Program, a new initiative aimed at identifying and addressing potential security vulnerabilities or harmful behaviors in its popular language model, ChatGPT. The program offers up to $20,000 in rewards for individuals who discover and report critical bugs or risks in the system.
The ChatGPT language model, which allows users to engage in interactive conversations with an AI-powered chatbot, has gained significant popularity. However, OpenAI recognizes the importance of ensuring its safety and reliability. By inviting the wider security research community to participate in the bounty program, OpenAI aims to proactively identify and rectify any potential issues, further enhancing the system's robustness.
The bounty program focuses on two main areas: “find and exploit” and “safely interruptible.” In the first category, researchers are encouraged to discover novel vulnerabilities or security risks that could lead to the model providing incorrect or harmful responses. In the “safely interruptible” category, the program seeks to uncover vulnerabilities that allow users to interrupt or stop the model's behavior in situations where it exhibits undesirable or inappropriate responses.
