Global Courant
NSA Director Paul Nakasone says the US remains ahead in AI development, but capabilities can be “taken for granted”, highlighting the threat from China.
The United States National Security Agency (NSA) has announced the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Security Center that will oversee the development and integration of AI capabilities across the US defense and intelligence agencies.
Director of the NSA and US Cyber Command, General Paul Nakasone, said on Thursday that US officials were aware of the increasing importance of AI in the national security landscape and that the opening of the new center was part of steps to “shape the future shape” AI technology in the security, defense and intelligence sectors.
“We maintain an edge in AI in the United States today. That AI advantage should not be taken for granted,” Nakasone said at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, where he spoke about the opening of the center and the growing threat that China posed.
The AI center will be incorporated into the NSA’s current Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, Nakasone said, where it will become the focal point for “promoting the safe adoption of new AI capabilities across the national security enterprise and defense base.” industry”.
“AI will increasingly have national security implications across diplomatic, technological and economic matters for our country and our allies and partners,” Nakasone said, according to a statement from the US Department of Defense.
The NSA head said it is imperative that the US maintain its leadership in AI development and deter malicious foreign actors from acquiring US innovations in AI.
“We need to build a robust understanding of AI vulnerabilities, foreign intelligence threats to these AI systems and ways to counter the threat to ensure AI security,” he said.
Asked about the US’s use of AI to automate threat analysis, Nakasone said US intelligence and defense agencies are already using AI, although the final decisions are still made by humans.
“AI helps us, but our decisions are made by humans. And that’s an important distinction,” he said. “We do see help from artificial intelligence. But ultimately decisions will be made by people and by people who play a role in them.”
In response to questions from journalists, Nakasone said the US security service has “yet” detected no attempts by Russia or China to influence the 2024 US presidential election.
Before the U.S. presidential election, there will be a number of elections in other parts of the world, he said, and the U.S. will work with partners and allies to help deter such manipulation efforts.
The creation of an AI Security Center follows an NSA study that found securing AI models against theft and tampering is a key national security challenge for the US, especially as generative AI technologies emerge with enormous transformative potential for both good and bad actors.
Cybersecurity researchers also say China has stepped up cyber operations in recent months targeting U.S. and allied institutions, including possibly pre-positioning malware designed to disrupt military communications.
On Thursday, the US and Japan issued an alert saying Chinese hackers were targeting government, industrial, telecommunications and other entities that support their militaries.
