Last week, members from Highwire’s cybersecurity practice touched down in D.C. On their agenda: attending both the Aspen Cyber Summit and POLITICO’s AI and Tech Summit to hear firsthand what government and private officials are focused on regarding the future of our national security and the cybersecurity risks around AI.
Key Takeaways from the Events:
Ensuring Secure Elections in the Age of AI
Discussions about election security were paramount with less than 50 days until the U.S. election. Executives from CISA, OpenAI, Recorded Future, and Senator Amy Klobuchar addressed threats like foreign influence operations and disinformation campaigns, emphasizing how AI can exacerbate these risks. While U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco expressed optimism about the security of election infrastructure, she still cautioned about foreign actors using AI technologies to amplify their propaganda efforts.
In a year with over 60 global elections, the Aspen Cyber Summit took the time to reflect on election security thus far, and experts had an overwhelmingly positive take. Many believe that in a year where AI continues to proliferate misinformation, we’ve done a great job as a community in educating the masses on its risk. This education has helped governments, media institutions, and the general public better recognize AI-generated misinformation, which has helped enhance election security globally.
Balancing AI Regulation
The recent California AI bill sparked debate over potential over-regulation. Representative Jay Obernolte argued that excessive regulation creates a landscape where only larger companies, like Microsoft, can effectively engage with AI, stifling innovation for smaller AI developers. He stressed that AI regulation is fundamentally an interstate commerce issue requiring a nuanced approach and we should be cautious of how quickly we’re regulating it.
Despite these concerns, Rep. Obernolte shared how Congress is working on a regulatory framework aimed at establishing international safety standards for AI and boosting funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to improve testing standards. These conferences highlighted that as AI continues to evolve, so too will the landscape of its regulation.
Addressing Chinese Threats to National Security
Foreign influence, especially from China, was a significant focus. Officials like Christopher Wray and Lisa Monaco warned of the ongoing hacking campaigns targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. They shared insights on efforts to dismantle Volt Typhoon, while also using the Aspen Cyber Summit stage to share how the FBI took down a new botnet campaign from Flax Typhoon.
Despite all this work, Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasized the need for safeguards on AI technologies to protect the nation from unintended consequences of a nation-state attack. Many experts continue to emphasize that we need to be prepared to defend against foreign adversaries, especially China, who are exploiting AI-based technologies for espionage and cyber operations.
Importance of Public and Private Sector Collaboration
A recurring theme throughout both summits was the necessity for collaboration between public and private sectors. FBI Director Wray emphasized the agency’s commitment to assisting organizations during cyber incidents to minimize operational disruptions. Due to their close private partnerships, the FBI has helped victims of ransomware attacks save $800M in the past two years on ransoms alone, and he continues to urge companies impacted to call the FBI immediately.
Discussions at the POLITICO AI & Tech Summit further underscored the need for a proactive governmental role in promoting cyber resiliency, advocating for shared responsibility among all organizations.
Interested in learning more about how Highwire strategizes for clients at major federal cybersecurity events like the Aspen Cyber Summit? Reach out to us here—we’d love to connect!
