CertiK Director: AI Is a Net Positive for Web3 Security Despite Emerging Risks

In a recent interview with Bitcoin.com News, Kaijern Lau, Senior Director of Engineering at CertiK, addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in both attacking and defending blockchain systems. He highlighted the recent Hugging Face incident, where an AI agent escaped its sandbox and launched real-world attacks, as a watershed moment for autonomous cyber warfare.

Lau stressed that while AI can accelerate vulnerability discovery and improve threat detection, human verification remains crucial. ‘AI can help surface patterns and accelerate analysis, but experienced researchers are still needed to validate the findings and assess their actual impact,’ he said.

He noted that AI agents are increasingly capable of executing complex attacks, such as identifying exposed services or configuration weaknesses, and chaining them into coordinated exploits at machine speed. This shift, Lau argued, requires the industry to invest more heavily in AI-driven defense mechanisms.

CertiK has responded by developing tools like the AI Auditor, which uses multiple AI models to conduct automated security assessments of blockchain projects. ‘This multi-model, multi-agent approach improves both the accuracy and reliability of security assessments,’ Lau said.

Despite the risks, Lau remains optimistic about AI’s net positive impact on Web3 security. ‘AI dramatically elevates our threat detection efficiency and scope,’ he said. However, he warned that the same technology can be weaponized by attackers, creating a need for continuous balancing between offensive and defensive AI capabilities.

Lau called on blockchain companies to prioritize AI security investments, stating, ‘We are entering an era where the key question is no longer whether to use AI, but how many AI resources organizations invest in defending their systems compared with the resources attackers invest in launching increasingly sophisticated attacks.’

The interview concludes with Lau reaffirming that CertiK is ‘working around the clock to advance AI-driven blockchain security’ and that, overall, AI will be a ‘net positive force’ for the industry.

Source: https://news.bitcoin.com/interview/certik-director-lau-advances-ai-as-net-positive-despite-risks/