New US AI Security Centre boosts US DOD’s capabilities
As technology rapidly evolves
According to the agency’s director, the US National Security Agency’s newly established Artificial Intelligence Security Centre is proving instrumental in keeping the US Department of Defence (DOD) at the forefront of cutting-edge technology.
US Air Force Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, Commander of US Cyber Command, highlighted the centre’s critical role in harnessing, adapting, and safeguarding AI technology.
At the Billington Cybersecurity Summit in Washington on September 6, 2024, Haugh underscored the centre’s focus on protecting intellectual property and ensuring the responsible use of AI models.
“Focusing on the security of AI technology is crucial. It involves safeguarding intellectual property and defending these models to ensure they are used appropriately,” Haugh stated.
The AI Security Centre, announced last year by Haugh’s predecessor, US Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, consolidates the NSA’s AI and security-related activities. It is central to developing best practices, evaluation methods, and risk frameworks to promote secure AI adoption across the national security and defence industries.
Haugh also emphasised the NSA’s role in understanding and mitigating the risks posed by AI in adversaries’ hands. As AI increasingly influences national security, US officials are working to shape its future while addressing associated risks.
In line with these efforts, the US DOD released its 2023 Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy to accelerate AI capabilities to ensure US warfighters maintain a strategic advantage. This strategy builds on years of US DOD leadership in AI and reinforces the US’s competitive edge.
US Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who unveiled the strategy, highlighted the Pentagon’s dedication to safety and ethical considerations in advancing AI technology. The US has also introduced a political declaration on the responsible military use of AI to establish norms for its application.
Haugh reaffirmed the NSA’s commitment to responsibly shaping the US DOD’s AI initiatives, reflecting the agency’s unique perspective on the technology’s future.
Featured image: US Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, Commander of US Cyber Command and Director of the US National Security Agency, gives the opening remarks at the Cyber Command’s Legal Conference at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 9, 2024. Credit: US DOD
