Artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the cybersecurity industry will be a central theme at this year's RSA conference in San Francisco, from hundreds of panels and talks to often quirky exhibits in the exhibit hall. Masu.
Tens of thousands of data security experts, business moguls, educators, government leaders, privacy advocates and more gathered at the city's Moscone Center to check out the latest cybersecurity techniques and trends. About 650 people are scheduled to speak at more than 400 panels, talks and other sessions by the time it ends Thursday afternoon.
Let's take a look at what's happening now:
More: Alicia Keys brings the house down
May 9, 2024, 2:50 PM Pacific Time
What does the 16-time Grammy Award winner have to do with cybersecurity? It's not much, but Alicia Keys' mini-concert was a great way to end this year's RSA conference.
In one of the most entertaining closing keynotes in the conference's recent history, Keys performed songs such as “If I Ain't Got You” and “New York State of Mind,” along with a cover of the Eurythmics song “Sweet Dreams.” ” and performed some of her biggest hits. A full room.
RSA conferences typically focus on the cybersecurity industry, but the closing keynote often veers into the world of entertainment. Recent performers include comedian Seth Meyers and magicians Penn and Teller.
Keys, whose Broadway musical “Hell's Kitchen'' has currently been nominated for 13 Tony Awards, was backed by a small group of musicians, but he filled the stage with a wonderful vocal performance.
Reactions from the crowd of cybersecurity experts and other attendees ranged from sitting quietly to dancing in the aisles, but by the end of the set most were on their feet. And the people who were sitting all the way back were holding their phones over their heads to take photos and videos.
Break: Ted Lasso creator speaks positively
May 8, 2024, 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
The character of Ted Lasso and his unwavering positive attitude were, in part, a reaction to the increasingly mean and sarcastic tone of television sitcom characters in the years leading up to the show's production. , Lasso creator Jason Sudeikis told RSA attendees on Wednesday.
In his morning keynote address, Sudeikis told a packed convention hall how the Lasso character came about and its subsequent impact on television and society.
The story of a seemingly unqualified American football coach who moves to England to lead the English soccer team, was originally produced in 2013 to promote NBC Sports broadcasts of English Premier League soccer.
Jason Sudeikis talks about the origins of Ted Lasso.
At the time, Sudeikis said Russo's character was interesting, but not the overly kind and positive guy that fans of the Apple TV Plus show loved. It wasn't until years later that he realized that this character could be the opposite of the TV character he had seen as ignorant but arrogant.
“I was always more interested in people who were ignorant but curious,” Sudeikis said, adding that sitcom characters are often mean-spirited people who get away with it even though they know that's not the case in real life. He added that he says things too often to make people laugh.
Many fans of the show, which first hit our screens during the coronavirus pandemic when many needed a mental boost, say watching it makes them feel better. . Not everything that happens during the episode is happy, but there is an underlying feeling of hope and positivity that always persists.
And nothing symbolizes that more than the handmade “Believe” sign that hangs in Russo's office throughout the series. Sudeikis, who came up with the idea for the sign, said he has seen copies posted everywhere from the White House to classrooms to pediatric cancer wards.
“I'm amazed at the response to that sign,” Sudeikis said. “It was really humbling and profound.”
Mayorkas says safe and secure deployment of AI is key for critical infrastructure
May 7, 2024 8:30am
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the Department of Homeland Security will work with the technology industry to ensure that AI is deployed in a way that protects the rights and safety of Americans and maintains the critical infrastructure that runs the country. He said he is focusing on.
In his morning RSA keynote and subsequent roundtable discussion with journalists, Mayorkas said he was optimistic about what could be accomplished with the recently established AI Safety Commission.
The group, led by Mayorkas, will meet for the first time on Monday to advise the federal government on how best to protect the nation's most critical services from AI-related attacks.
The conference brings together government and technology companies at the forefront of AI development such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, as well as executives from critical infrastructure companies such as Delta Air Lines and Northrop Grumman, and civil and privacy rights leaders. To do.
The group's goal is ultimately to establish guidelines and create a national plan for safely and securely deploying AI.
As part of the effort, the federal government is recruiting technology experts and others with AI-related skills to come to the federal government. Thousands of people have already applied, although Mayorkas admits he can't compete with big tech companies in terms of pay.
Mayorkas said, “The voice of a public servant is a representative voice, and it represents millions of people,'' Mayorkas said, noting that decisions made by public servants affect millions of people as well. did.
“It's a big responsibility and a great opportunity.”
Blinken says technology and security must play a leading role in diplomacy
May 6, 2024, 3:55 PM Pacific Time
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at the RSA conference in San Francisco on Monday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said technology and its security role are becoming an increasingly important part of global diplomacy as the distinction between the digital and physical worlds continues to fade.
“Security, stability and prosperity are no longer just analog issues,” Blinken said in his keynote address at the RSA conference, adding that the choices security professionals make today “will reverberate for generations.” .
In a wide-ranging speech, Blinken spoke of the need for the United States to be a leader in everything from semiconductor production and training of high-tech talent to setting the rules for developing cutting-edge technologies such as AI and quantum computing. .
He noted that if a potentially dangerous technology like genomic surveillance were to be controlled by a rival country of the United States, its misuse could become commonplace and cause irreparable damage.
Blinken also said that promoting and protecting democracy around the world continues to depend on the engagement of U.S. tech companies, especially the security industry. He pointed to the assistance many U.S. companies gave Ukraine to strengthen networks and enhance communications before and after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
wargaming legacy
May 6, 2024 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time
Monday afternoon's keynote began with a surprise appearance by actor Matthew Broderick, who gained attention for playing a teenage hacker in the 1980s cult classic “War Games.”
Broderick said the film's plot, in which his character accidentally hacks into a military supercomputer while searching for a new video game, may seem absurd to today's security experts. He said that prompted then-President Ronald Reagan to convene his Cabinet. Congress and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will discuss whether such a thing could actually happen.
What President Reagan discovered, Broderick said, was that the problem was much deeper than that. Ultimately, President Reagan's interest in the film is believed to have contributed to the creation of the first presidential directive on computer security.
This article will be updated with further coverage from RSA throughout the week.
Editor's note: CNET used an AI engine to create dozens of stories and label them accordingly. The notes you are reading are attached to articles that substantively cover the topic of AI, all written by professional editors and writers. Learn more about. AI policy.
