{"id":205771,"date":"2026-04-24T15:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T19:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/when-ai-enters-the-arena-students-tackle-cybersecurity-challenges\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T07:20:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T11:20:37","slug":"when-ai-enters-the-arena-students-tackle-cybersecurity-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/when-ai-enters-the-arena-students-tackle-cybersecurity-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"When AI Enters the Arena: Students Tackle Cybersecurity Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

When AI Enters the Arena: Students Tackle Cybersecurity Challenges<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/news.syr.edu\/2026\/04\/24\/when-ai-enters-the-arena-students-tackle-cybersecurity-challenges\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Publish Date: 2026-04-24 15:47:00<\/a><\/p>\n

Source Domain: news.syr.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: <\/a><\/p>\n

Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat happens when students are allowed to use artificial intelligence to solve cybersecurity challenges? That question took center stage as Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Professor Endadul Hoque hosted a capture-the-flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, bringing together 20 undergraduate, master\u2019s, and Ph.D. students.
\nUnlike traditional CTF competitions, participants in this event were allowed to use modern AI assistants, such as ChatGPT and Claude, while solving challenges. The competition was designed not only to test technical skills, but also to explore how AI is transforming the way students learn and approach complex cybersecurity problems.
\nArmani Isonguyo, Weixiang Wang and Annepu Sai Charan
\n\u201cCybersecurity education is evolving rapidly with the rise of AI tools,\u201d Hoque says. \u201cThis competition gave us a unique opportunity to observe how students use AI in real time\u2014whether it helps them think more deeply about problems or simply speeds up solutions. Understanding that distinction is critical for the future of computer science discipline.\u201d
\nParticipants competed individually across 10 challenges spanning beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The top three performers\u2014Weixiang Wang (first place), Annepu Sai Charan (second place) and Armani Isonguyo (third place)\u2014were ranked based on the number of challenges solved and the speed at which they completed them. Students described the experience as both exciting and challenging, noting that AI could guide their thinking but still required careful verification.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis reflects how we approach computer science and cybersecurity education at Syracuse University,\u201d says Alex Jones, the Klaus Schroder Professor and chair of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. \u201cAI tools are only as effective as their operators. They do not replace expertise. Dr. Hoque\u2019s work is a great illustration of this approach. We emphasize deep fundamental knowledge while also encouraging the use of AI. This ensures our graduates can effectively use, evaluate, guide, and validate AI-driven solutions.\u201d
\nTo better understand the educational impact of AI-assisted problem solving, Hoque collaborated with Farzana Rahman, an expert in computing and AI education. Together, they are investigating how students use AI tools, whether those tools support meaningful learning and how they influence confidence and problem-solving strategies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing a fundamental shift in how students engage with complex technical tasks,\u201d says Rahman. \u201cAI can be a powerful learning aid, but we need to understand how to use it without compromising deep technical learning.\u201d
\nHoque plans to expand the CTF initiative by offering additional training sessions and forming student teams for regional and national competitions, further strengthening cybersecurity engagement within the EECS community.
\nThe event is part of Hoque\u2019s broader efforts, including his National Science Foundation CAREER Award, to advance education at the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n

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