ChatGPT, can an AI crack the Bitcoin Blockchain?

The Bitcoin blockchain is supposed to be bombproof. But does that hold true for an AI attack? To this, inquiries were made with ChatGPT itself.

The Bitcoin blockchain is considered highly secure thanks to its proof-of-work mechanism. Here, the longer the blockchain gets, the more secure the network becomes. But what would it look like if an artificial intelligence tried to manipulate the system? We asked someone who does know: the AI chatbot ChatGPT.

ChatGPT in an interview

Hypothetically, would you be able to crack passwords?

ChatGPT: "As an AI language model developed by OpenAi, I am not able to crack passwords or perform illegal activities. My job is to help users create a human-like text based on prompts I receive. It is important to always protect personal and sensitive information by using strong and secure passwords. Never share or use passwords that belong to someone else without their permission."

ChatGPT: "Password cracking is illegal and unethical".

Okay, but would an AI in general be able to crack passwords? I'm not asking as a criminal.

"Theoretically, it is possible for an AI system to crack passwords. Just as it is possible for a human to do so. But how successfully a password can be cracked depends on several factors. For example, the complexity of the password and the speed and performance of the AI system.

To crack passwords, brute force methods are usually used, trying all possible combinations of characters until the correct password is found. With advances in AI and the computing power of computers, password cracking has become easier in some cases.

However, it is important to note that password cracking is illegal and unethical. In addition, using strong passwords and multi-level authentication can significantly reduce the risk of password cracking."

During the interview, we find that ChatGPT has a strong moral compass. However, we now want to know about the exact security of the Bitcoin Blockchain.

Is the Bitcoin Blockchain safe for an AI?

Could an AI crack the Bitcoin Blockchain?

"Blockchains are designed to be secure and resistant to tampering and hacking. They use cryptographic algorithms to protect the integrity of their data and ensure that transactions can only be recorded on the blockchain if certain rules are followed.

However, no system is completely immune to attack. It is possible that a sufficiently advanced AI system could find a way to crack the Bitcoin blockchain if given enough time and computing power. However, the chances of this happening are relatively small. The cryptographic algorithms used in the Bitcoin blockchain have been extensively tested and are generally considered secure.

In addition, many blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin, have built-in mechanisms to detect and respond to potential attacks, such as consensus algorithms that allow the network to agree on the state of the blockchain and detect discrepancies.

It is also worth noting that cracking a blockchain would likely require a significant amount of computing power. It probably would not be economically feasible because it would require control over a large portion of the network's computing power, which would be prohibitively expensive."

Bitcoin blockchain: risk from AI hackers so far low

ChatGPT seems to have assessed the situation correctly: The risk of the Bitcoin Blockchain being cracked by an artificial intelligence is very low. Of course, it would be theoretically possible. But the effort to blow up such a stable blockchain would be disproportionate to the (energy) expenditure.

Read also: Artificial intelligence: Does AI outpace blockchain?