Episode 14: Oumou Ly on Socio-Technical Factors in AI and Cybersecurity Risks
In the latest episode of the Responsible AI podcast from The AI Forum, we engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Oumou Ly, a senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity. Oumou shares her invaluable insights from her time working on President Biden's Executive Order on AI, a landmark initiative aimed at addressing the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
Her experience highlights the complexities involved in crafting policies that can keep pace with the swift evolution of technology. As Oumou aptly notes, "The pace of regulation just sort of moves much slower than the pace of innovation."
The conversation delves into the intricacies of integrating security by design from the outset. Oumou discusses the hurdles that developers encounter when trying to balance innovation with security, a task that requires a deep understanding of both technical and socio-technical systems. This approach is crucial in mitigating risks and ensuring that AI technologies are developed responsibly and safely, protecting users and society at large.
Oumou also sheds light on the ongoing battle against ransomware, a pervasive threat in the digital age. She explores the dilemmas faced by organizations when dealing with ransomware attacks, emphasizing the need for proactive measures and robust cybersecurity practices. Her insights provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in AI regulation and cybersecurity, offering listeners a glimpse into the future of these critical areas.
Topics
02:09 The Executive Order on AI: Process and Development
07:30 Major Accomplishments of the Executive Order
10:02 Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration in AI Policy
13:09 Challenges in Legislative Regulation of AI
16:19 Incentives and Interests in AI Regulation
17:01 Socio-Technical Factors in AI and Cybersecurity Risks
19:47 Security by Design in AI Development
21:18 Navigating AI Risk Management
22:21 Ransomware: Strategies and Metrics
24:47 The Ransomware Dilemma: To Pay or Not to Pay?
26:36 Secure by Design: A Holistic Approach
27:10 Cultivating a Culture of Cybersecurity
30:20 Oumou’s work on the Blue Sky Social Network
33:08 Investor Influence on Cybersecurity Practices
36:37 Accountability in AI: Who's Responsible?
38:37 The Importance of Digital Literacy
About Oumou Ly: Oumou Ly is a policy expert and technologist shaping how governments and industries around the world confront the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
As the Senior Advisor for Technology and Ecosystem Security at the White House, she co- authored the President’s 2023 Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence and played a pivotal role in developing national strategies to strengthen ecosystem-level technology security outcomes, including the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, and the U.S. Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies. Oumou also served in a presidentially appointed role at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where she led efforts to advance metrics driven methods for reducing cybersecurity risk.
Prior to serving in the executive branch, Oumou was a fellow and researcher at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, where she co-authored the concept paper for BlueSky Social, a public benefit corporation that hosts one of the first decentralized social networking platforms. Her commentary and research have appeared in The Hill, NBC News, and the Financial Times.
Earlier, Oumou served an advisor to U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer, where she counseled the Leader and Democratic lawmakers on defense, national security, and technology policy.
Learn more about Oumou Ly and see her work at 659 Strategies.
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