A Japanese guy was found guilty of utilizing generative AI to create malware.

A guy was found guilty by a Japanese court of employing generative conversational artificial intelligence to create malware.

For creating malware that may be used as ransomware in March 2023, Ryuki Hayashi, 25, was convicted by the Tokyo District Court to three years in jail with a four-year suspension.

His case is said to be the first instance in which authorities have prosecuted an individual for utilizing generative AI to create a virus.

Generally speaking, generative AI is not allowed to respond to questions that could encourage illegal action. However, by repeatedly rephrasing his prompts, Hayashi managed to create the code over a span of six hours, he told Kyodo News in an interview at a detention center.

Judge Takashi Kawase stated in his decision that Hayashi’s desire to make quick cash was “selfish” and that there was “no room for leniency.”

After being hired for yami baito, which translates to “dark part-time work,” Hayashi also lied and defrauded a SIM card, the verdict stated.

However, given that Hayashi had acknowledged the wrongdoing and expressed regret, the judge decided that a suspended sentence was acceptable.