Google is now offering free open-source AI tools to bolster cybersecurity capabilities against cybercriminals and state-sponsored threat actors.

In a blog post on Thursday, the tech giant announced the AI Cyber Defense Initiative to give security professionals and civil society "the chance to finally tilt the cybersecurity balance" in their favor.

Part of it will be the launching of the new AI-powered tool Magika for detecting malware on Gmail, Drive, and Safe Browsing.

Google claims the AI tool "outperforms conventional file identification methods" by 30% and has 95% better precision on detecting "problematic content" on VBA, JavaScript, and Powershell.

The cyber defense tool will be focused on securing, empowering, and advancing its defense capabilities across its platforms.

Also Read: State-Backed Hackers are Now Using AI Chatbots for Cyberattacks

Google Addresses 'Defender's Dilemma' in Cybersecurity

Aside from rolling out AI tools, Google announced that it will be putting more effort into addressing the so-called "Defender's Dilemma" affecting the cybersecurity industry with the rise of AI.

The tech giant is committing to adapting the technology towards vulnerability detection and fixing as cyberattacks become more rampant and sophisticated thanks to AI integration.

Google also pledged $2 million in cash grants for its research and strategic partnerships.

The cash grant will be provided to researchers at the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon and Stanford.

This is the consecutive time Google committed millions of dollars to academic institutions to advance its AI security research following the $12 million financial support to the New York research team last year.

Related Article: Homeland Security is Now Hiring AI Experts to 'Advance Missions'

Cybercriminals Using AI More for Widescale Cyberattacks

The study was published as cybercriminal groups, particularly state-sponsored bad actors, were reported to be using more AI tools for ransomware and data breach operations.

In the US alone, more cyberattacks were reported last year as threat actors target prominent companies, state facilities, and critical services across the country.

A similar security assessment was released by Microsoft, in collaboration with OpenAI, in addressing the rise of AI in digital crime.