AI Unmasked: Understanding AI and Its Cybersecurity Implications

Artificial Intelligence technologies are reshaping how we work, communicate, and make decisions. While these tools offer powerful new capabilities, they also bring misconceptions, unrealistic expectations, and serious concerns around security, privacy, and responsible use.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to AI, focusing on how these technologies actually work, what they can (and can’t) do, and how to engage with them safely and effectively.

We will also challenge common myths, such as the idea that AI “thinks” like a human or is inherently unbiased, and clarify what the “artificial” in Artificial Intelligence really means. A special emphasis will be placed on the risks associated with misuse, including disinformation, deepfakes, and ethical/legal implications.

Crucially, the course will provide concrete best practices for using AI tools securely and responsibly in professional contexts. Participants will learn how to protect sensitive information, evaluate the reliability of AI outputs, and apply privacy-conscious approaches when integrating AI into their workflows.

This training will cover:

Part 1 – Morning Session

• What exactly is AI?  How do we define Artificial Intelligence?
• Common misconceptions about AI
• A brief history of AI and human-machine interaction
• Types of AI: Narrow AI, General AI, and Superintelligence
• How AI learns: algorithms and learning paradigms
• AI in everyday life: its role in products and services
• How to benefit from AI while avoiding common pitfalls
• The future of AI: opportunities and open questions

Part 2 – Afternoon Session

• AI Limitations
• • The underlying mechanisms of Generative AI
• • Understanding its technical boundaries and limitations
• Implications: Impact and Challenges
• • Legal, privacy, societal, and ethical considerations
• • Emerging threats: disinformation, deepfakes, and criminal misuse
• • AI’s impact on cybersecurity
• • Security vulnerabilities in AI systems
• Governance and Ecosystem
• • Key players in the AI ecosystem
• • The role of open-source, sovereignty, and supply chain challenges

By the end of the training, you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to navigate today’s AI landscape, understanding both its opportunities and its risks, while applying practical strategies to ensure safe, ethical, and effective use.

Mixture of theory and Practical work (Interactive discussions, case studies, and Q&A sessions)