MIT Sloan has withdrawn a controversial paper that claimed 80% of ransomware attacks involved artificial intelligence, following backlash from cybersecurity experts. The paper, co-authored by MIT Sloan researchers and Safe Security, analyzed over 2,800 ransomware incidents and suggested a significant rise in AI's role in these attacks. Critics, including security researcher Kevin Beaumont, slammed the paper as baseless, pointing out that it inaccurately categorized many major ransomware groups as AI-driven without supporting evidence. Beaumont specifically noted the inclusion of Emotet, a ransomware strain that has not been operational for years. After Beaumont's critique, which he shared on social media, MIT Sloan removed the paper from its website. The updated link now directs to a notice stating that the document is being revised due to recent reviews. Michael Siegel, one of the paper’s co-authors, acknowledged the need for updates based on the feedback received. Beaumont has since labeled the paper as "cyberslop," criticizing it for spreading unfounded claims that could mislead cybersecurity professionals. He raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, citing Siegel’s ties to a company funding MIT Sloan's research. This situation highlights the risks of misinformation in cybersecurity and the importance of rigorous standards in research.