SoftBank to Launch Cybersecurity Service in Japan

Tokyo, June 16 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. said Tuesday that it will launch a domestic cybersecurity service to help companies detect vulnerabilities and take countermeasures. The service uses advanced artificial intelligence technologies developed by OpenAI, the U.S. developer of ChatGPT. SoftBank Group aims to support companies in strengthening their digital defense capabilities amid growing concerns over the misuse of advanced AI models, such as Claude Mythos, developed by U.S. startup Anthropic. The service will identify vulnerabilities in security systems, support companies in drawing up guidelines for applying patches and propose methods for implementing those countermeasures. SoftBank Group will initially offer the service to about 100 firms, including operators of important social infrastructure, such as finance and telecommunications. SoftBank Group said security assessments of some 700 of its systems using technologies provided by OpenAI uncovered about 15,000 vulnerabilities. “Conventional cyberattacks have been conducted with bamboo spears, but the time has come when AI is used to attack like a machine gun,” SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said at an event in Tokyo. “This could become the most serious crisis for Japan since the arrival of the Black Ships” in the Edo period, he added. Before the event, Son met with Japanese financial services minister Satsuki Katayama at the Finance Ministry. They discussed strengthening cooperation between the firm and the government on defense against cyberattacks. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]