Working group on the Intersection of AI and cybersecurity

Free-market thinktank R Street Institute has established a new working group to examine cybersecurity applications in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The group will bring together members from the private sector, government, academia and civil society.

Objectives of the working group

The six-month working group, organized by the R Street Institute, will discuss AI use cases, existing regulatory and legislative proposals, as well as best practices for companies and regulators. Unlike other working groups, the main focus of this one will be on the intersection between AI and cybersecurity in general, rather than focusing exclusively on specific forms of generative AI.

Members of the working group

U.S. Congressional branches represented in an advisory capacity within the working group include Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), Senator Joe Machin III (DW.Va.), and the Senate Armed Services Committee. The working group also includes representatives from Google, the UC Berkeley AI Security Initiative, the Software & Information Industry Association, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.

Concerns and usefulness of Artificial Intelligence for cybersecurity

Policymakers in Washington are increasingly concerned about the risks posed by the use of Artificial Intelligence. Despite the concerns, technology companies are rapidly developing AI-based products, especially in the cybersecurity sector, where leading companies such as Google and Microsoft are incorporating generative AI into their offerings. Brandon Pugh, head of R Street's cybersecurity and emerging threats team, highlighted the great value of AI for cybersecurity, saying that it has been used in cybersecurity systems for years.