Disruption

States brace for AI-driven cyber attacks

Just 22% of state chief information officers are confident in their ability to protect public data.
A person types on a keyboard on Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are putting urgent pressure on state and local governments to shore up their cybersecurity operations to protect against hacks, amid concerns that frontier AI models in the hands of bad actors could be used to unleash sophisticated attacks exploiting previously unknown vulnerabilities.

The heightened risk, and the scramble to plug potential vulnerabilities, comes as many states face budget shortfalls, making new investments in security a tougher sell in state legislatures. 

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