National Security Agency is starting an artificial intelligence security center
The National Security Agency is starting an artificial intelligence security center — a crucial mission as AI capabilities are increasingly acquired, developed and integrated into U.S. defense and intelligence systems
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The National Security Agency is starting an artificial intelligence security center — a crucial mission as AI capabilities are increasingly acquired, developed and integrated into U.S. defense and intelligence systems, the agency's outgoing director announced Thursday.
Army Gen. Paul Nakasone said the center would be incorporated into the NSA's Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, where it works with private industry and international partners to harden the U.S. defense-industrial base against threats from adversaries led by China and Russia.
“We maintain an advantage in AI in the United States today. That AI advantage should not be taken for granted,” Nakasone said at the National Press Club, emphasizing the threat from Beijing in particular.
Asked if the U.S. has detected either Russia or China using generative AI technologies such as deepfakes to try to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, Nakasone said, “We haven't seen that yet." He noted that a number of elections will take place around the world before that and said the U.S. would work with partners and allies to help deter any such efforts.
Nakasone was asked about using AI to automate the analysis of threat vectors and red-flag alerts — and he reminded the audience that U.S. intelligence and defense agencies already use AI.
“AI helps us, But our decisions are made by humans. And that’s an important distinction,” Nakasone said. "We do see assistance from artificial intelligence. But at the end of the day, decisions will be made by humans and humans in the loop.”
The AI security center's establishment follows an NSA study that identified securing AI models from theft and sabotage as a major national security challenge, especially as generative AI chatbots emerge with immense transformative potential for both good and evil.
Nakasone said it would become “NSA’s focal point for leveraging foreign intelligence insights, contributing to the development of best practices guidelines, principles, evaluation, methodology and risk frameworks” for both AI security and the goal of promoting the secure development and adoption of AI within "our national security systems and our defense industrial base.”
He said it would work closely with U.S. industry, national labs, academia and the Department of Defense as well as international partners.
Nakasone is to be succeeded as dual leader of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command by Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, his current deputy.
The job puts one individual in charge of both U.S. cyber-defense and offense as well as the gathering of what is known as signals intelligence gathered through telecommunications surveillance. Nakasone has led both organizations since May 2018.
He said Thursday that he would remain in office until his replacement is confirmed by the Senate.