AI-Driven Cybersecurity: Empirical Analysis of ChatGPT's Impact and Expert Perceptions
Abstract
This study examines ChatGPT's role in cybersecurity, emphasizing its potential, limitations, and perceptions among professionals. A survey targeting 200 cybersecurity experts across various industries was conducted using email and LinkedIn to gather data on familiarity with AI, ChatGPT usage, and expectations. The survey, structured into five sections, employed Likert scales, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended prompts to assess socio-demographic characteristics, familiarity with AI, ChatGPT's perceived capabilities, its expected impact, and associated challenges. Quantitative analysis, including chi-square tests and correlation analysis, revealed that 70% of respondents were familiar with ChatGPT, with 61% expecting it to enhance phishing detection and 57% highlighting its potential in malware analysis. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses identified preferences for using ChatGPT in automating routine tasks like incident reporting and responding to security inquiries. Key challenges included data privacy concerns (45%), integration barriers (50%), and ethical implications. Despite these barriers, 65% of respondents anticipated ChatGPT to improve efficiency in cybersecurity operations. These findings provide actionable insights into ChatGPT's integration in cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing the need for robust policies, ethical considerations, and ongoing professional training to address adoption challenges.