DevConf.CZ 2025

Benjamin Akhras

Currently holding the position of Research Engineer at the Austrian Institute for Technology (AIT) since 2021, lead Developer of Taranis AI: https://taranis.ai, a renowned OSINT gathering and analysis tool, and the initiation of practical cybersecurity training sessions. Notable contributions include the establishment of a resilient hybrid cloud infrastructure, which significantly enhanced the scalability and performance of the AIT Cyber Range (https://cyberrange.at). An overview of recent projects can be explored on the GitHub profile: https://github.com/b3n4kh.


Company or affiliation

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology

Job title

Research Engineer


Session

06-13
11:00
35min
Taranis AI: Pioneering AI-Driven OSINT
Benjamin Akhras

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the fusion of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. "Taranis AI: Pioneering AI-Driven OSINT" highlights the journey of developing a fully open-source OSINT platform while navigating the complexities of applied AI research.

Building on the foundation of Taranis-NG and Taranis3, Taranis AI has embraced an open-source approach to enhance OSINT workflows with advanced AI technologies, including natural language processing (NLP) and AI-driven threat analysis.

This session will dive into the critical technical and strategic decisions made during the development of Taranis AI, such as how we selected and trained machine learning models within the constraints of an open-source ecosystem. We will also explore how the open-source nature of the project invites collaboration, fosters innovation, and mitigates the typical bottlenecks faced when implementing AI in security.

By sharing real-world use cases, we’ll demonstrate the tangible impact Taranis AI is having on OSINT operations today and discuss the lessons learned from balancing cutting-edge AI advancements with the realities of open-source software development.

See GitHub repository of project and research: https://github.com/taranis-ai/taranis-ai

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
D105 (capacity 300)