Following a string of major DeFi exploits, we unpack what’s driving the recent rise in hacks across crypto.
a16z crypto GP Eddy Lazzarin and security engineer Matt Gleason join host Robert Hackett to take a closer look. Their argument: AI is not introducing entirely new vulnerabilities. It is making existing weaknesses easier to identify and exploit. The question is whether defenders can evolve as quickly as attackers.
They also cover:
why “AI-powered hacking” is difficult to measure
how geopolitical tensions may be influencing cyber activity
why defenders should be aggressively stress-testing their own systems
how AI could eventually outperform humans at resisting social engineering
what users can do today to protect themselves online
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:57 – The surge, explained
01:37 – Did attackers use AI
04:19 – How AI can help defend against attacks
09:16 – The doomsday marketing debate
17:17 – DeFi transparency: opportunities and challenges
21:00 – Social engineering and how to stay safe
Follow along here:
Eddy Lazzarin: / eddylazzarin
Robert Hackett: / rhackett
Matt Gleason: / mg_486662
Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subsc…
As always, none of the following should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
