Generative AI in Cyber Security of Cyber Physical Systems: Benefits and Threats

The advancements in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) have also increased their vulnerability to various cyber-attacks. Therefore, it is crucial to develop strong cybersecurity mechanisms, shielding these critical systems from potential cyber intrusions. Among many AI technologies, Generative AI (GenAI) has gained significant attention in the last couple of years. This is due to its distinctive capability to autonomously generate original and diverse content across different domains, offering potential for novel advancements in several applications. Given the massive success of GenAI, it is essential to explore its role in ensuring the cybersecurity of CPSs. Therefore, in this paper, we present: 1) the evolution and current state of GenAI, 2) benefits of GenAI on the cybersecurity of CPS, 3) threats of GenAI on the cybersecurity of CPS, 4) defense strategies against threats and 5) future research opportunities. We hope this systematic survey will help the community prioritize research efforts to address pressing issues in cybersecurity of CPSs.