Artificial intelligence and cyber security: A new pathway for growth in emerging economies via the knowledge economy?

For emerging economies, artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security play a vital role as a catalyst to accelerate growth while providing mechanisms to protect and support critical infrastructure. In this chapter, we examine a critical question of what the implications are of the use and growth of AI and cyber security in the context of emerging economies. The chapter finds that that the application of AI tools and techniques to specific cyber security issues, such as intelligent malware and the rapid evolution of cyber-attacks, offers solutions to complex challenges faced by emerging economies. It could potentially underpin solutions for the protection of critical sectors such as education and health (cyber security) when offering a new pathway to innovation and entrepreneurship (AI), enabling co-operation and communication in the new knowledge economy. We make the first attempt to conceptualize the AI–cyber security relationship in the context of economic growth. We distil and connect the specific elements of AI and cyber security that offer an advantage to emerging countries through improved output and increased income through a conceptual framework and explain the impact it would have on specific economic factors and economic performance.