AI-charged cyber threats are especially tough for small organizations

The democratization of technology is ordinarily considered a good thing, but as AI models become more powerful, people working in cybersecurity, in particular, have raised concerns about what that is doing to the threat landscape. The availability of models that can find vulnerabilities in software and rapidly exploit them is troubling for even the most powerful governments. But for cities, towns and small public utilities, researchers at the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity said it’s an especially onerous threat, and one that’s too often going unspoken. Sarah Powazek, program director for the center’s Public Interest Cybersecurity initiative, said “the way AI is impacting those small organizations is very, very different than the conversation going on at the national level, which is mainly focused on export controls and U.S.-China relations.” And Grace Menna, the program’s senior fellow, explained to the Priorities Podcast how the center’s work is attempting to “help bridge this gap.”

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The nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance this month launched three new satellites, which will soon be used by emergency managers to monitor for wildfires. They’ll spend three months undergoing testing before entering service and providing far more frequent updates on fire-prone regions.

Arizona has launched two new locations for its regional security operations center initiative. Operated out of community colleges in the Phoenix area, they’re hoped to provide additional cybersecurity services and bolster the state’s workforce pipeline.

Pennsylvania’s health department this week launched a new data dashboard to help the public stay apprised of measles cases. The state’s health secretary said the dashboard boosts access to information and increases government transparency.

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