Source URL: https://simonwillison.net/2025/Aug/27/bruce-schneier/#atom-everything
Source: Simon Willison’s Weblog
Title: Quoting Bruce Schneier
Feedly Summary: We simply don’t know to defend against these attacks. We have zero agentic AI systems that are secure against these attacks. Any AI that is working in an adversarial environment—and by this I mean that it may encounter untrusted training data or input—is vulnerable to prompt injection. It’s an existential problem that, near as I can tell, most people developing these technologies are just pretending isn’t there.
— Bruce Schneier
Tags: prompt-injection, security, generative-ai, bruce-schneier, ai, llms, ai-agents
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses significant vulnerabilities in AI systems, particularly concerning prompt injection in adversarial environments. It emphasizes that current AI systems lack effective defenses against such attacks, highlighting a critical security gap that developers often overlook.
Detailed Description: The statement by Bruce Schneier addresses the pressing issue of security in AI systems, specifically those operating in adversarial situations. The main points of concern include:
– **Vulnerability of AI Systems**: The assertion that there are currently no secure AI systems designed to defend against prompt injection attacks.
– **Adversarial Environments**: It highlights that AI systems, especially those interacting with untrusted data, are susceptible to various attacks, making them insecure.
– **Prompt Injection as a Threat**: The text identifies prompt injection as a serious existential problem, indicating that the manipulation of inputs can lead to significant security challenges.
– **Neglect by Developers**: There is a critical observation regarding the AI community, suggesting that many developers may be disregarding these vulnerabilities, which could lead to severe consequences.
Key Insights:
– The discussion implicitly calls for increased attention to security in AI development, especially for systems that interact with potentially malicious or untrustworthy data sources.
– The urgency of establishing robust security measures against prompt injection is essential for building trust in advanced AI applications.
– This text serves as a wake-up call for security professionals to prioritize vulnerability assessments and mitigation strategies in the context of AI technologies.
In conclusion, as AI continues to expand its applications, addressing these security challenges becomes paramount to ensure the integrity and safety of AI systems in real-world scenarios.