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Comment by digitaltrees

6 hours ago

Because it is a reasonable logical inference from the facts.

1. OpenAI started the current AI cycle

2. That cycle has exposed exponentially more security vulnerabilities due to agentic coding

3. OpenAI is rushing as fast as they can to reach the singularity even while acknowledging that they lack the ability to ensure reasonable safety.

4. They launch an initiative to “address” the security vulnerabilities by using their coding tools.

Am I missing something? There is a broad range of motives and responses.

In this case (the PHP bug), the "AI cycle" may have exposed the security vulnerability but it did not create it. If someone released a non-AI-based static analysis tool that was really good at exposing vulnerabilities I wouldn't expect that person to foot the bill of fixing the exposed vulnerabilities

  • That’s a fine point but the sheer volume of bug discovery and exploitation that is now possible is the problem, not the mere existence of a bug. An undiscovered bug is a problem, billions of coding agents searching every bit of software 24/7 for any vulnerability is a disruptive change that is exacerbated by the speed run competition that disregards the risk.

    • I would steer in this direction: We have a massive mountain of technical debt that is now being laid bare by AI. I suspect that a good portion of the mess for which various three-letter agencies are responsible has its origins in precisely this mess. We should therefore allow things to get worse before they can get better.

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  • What if that same person released non-"AI"" based exploit generation tool? Not so clear cut that they would be off the hook. But if you just add "AI" suddenly you can both charge money for it and wash your hands of consequences.