Cybersecurity evaluations and the dissemination of threat information are fundamental components of Trump's AI strategy.
The U.S. government is taking significant steps to enhance cybersecurity for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in critical infrastructure, as outlined in the Trump administration's AI Action Plan. This plan aims to protect the nation's technological and security advantages by collaborating with both government and private sectors to defend AI systems.
One key measure is the creation of an AI Information Sharing and Analysis Center (AI-ISAC) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This unique ISAC will facilitate the sharing of AI security threat intelligence across all U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, making it the first ISAC not associated with a specific sector.
The AI-ISAC is designed to improve cybersecurity assessments and threat evaluations focused on AI vulnerabilities. As AI is increasingly used in industrial and critical infrastructure processes, new adversarial AI threats like data poisoning or system manipulation emerge. The plan highlights the necessity for cyber defenders to enhance their response capabilities against AI-enabled attacks.
In addition, the plan calls for incorporating AI incident response into existing cybersecurity doctrines. Standards will be developed in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Defense (DoD), the intelligence community, and industry to formalize AI-related incident management for both federal and private sector entities.
The plan also promotes Secure-By-Design AI technologies, including refinement of DoD Responsible AI frameworks and the publication of Intelligence Community standards to ensure robust AI assurance. This approach aims to build cybersecurity into AI applications from the ground up.
Moreover, the plan recommends that federal agencies prioritize sharing information about AI vulnerabilities with the private sector and recruiting talented AI and cyber researchers. The Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) is recommended to partner with the AI and cybersecurity industries for cutting-edge evaluations.
The plan also encourages the Departments of State and Commerce to advocate for international AI governance approaches that counter authoritarian influence. In light of the recent reorganization and mass layoffs at the State Department, this advocacy may face challenges in promoting U.S. interests on AI-related issues around the world.
However, the plan does not shy away from addressing regulatory barriers that impede AI innovation. It proposes removing "red tape and onerous regulation" from AI development, including blocking federal AI funding to states with burdensome rules.
Collectively, these actions operationalize the Trump administration’s goal of protecting the nation's security advantages by collaborating across government and private sectors to defend AI systems in critical infrastructure from emerging threats.
- The Trump administration's AI Action Plan emphasizes the importance of risk management, particularly in cyber risk, as it outlines steps to reinforce cybersecurity for AI in critical infrastructure.
- A key aspect of the plan is the creation of an AI Information Sharing and Analysis Center (AI-ISAC) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which focuses on cybersecurity assessments and threat evaluations for AI systems.
- As the use of AI grows in industrial and critical infrastructure processes, the plan acknowledges the rise of new cyber threats, such as data breach due to data poisoning or system manipulation, and stresses the need for better incident response.
- To enhance AI-related incident management, the plan calls for incorporating AI incident response into existing cybersecurity doctrines, with standards to be developed in partnership with NIST, DoD, the intelligence community, and industry.
- In line with Secure-By-Design AI technologies, the plan advocates for the refinement of DoD Responsible AI frameworks and the publication of Intelligence Community standards to ensure AI applications have robust cybersecurity features.
- The plan also acknowledges the role of policy-and-legislation, technology, and politics in this endeavor. For example, it recommends advocating for international AI governance approaches that mitigate authoritarian influence, while addressing regulatory barriers that may hinder AI innovation.
