Editorials

One of the most frustrating things is to sit in on a C-Suite meeting and hear the lofty strategic goals presented for the company and for cybersecurity only to have them torn to pieces when you explain what those goals will actually take and cost. The sticker shock that comes from understanding the moving pieces of a “Risk Intolerant” stance can be amusing, but in the end, it is more of an annoyance than anything. So, with that in mind I am going to discuss how to turn breakdown strategic goals into realistic tactical and logistical steps. I will not be focusing on anything specific but will follow some common guidelines and practices that can help bride the gap between ideals and reality It might also help inform future strategic statements by understanding the moving pieces involved in making them.

One thing that has always bothered me is the concept that censoring or hiding certain types of speech, thought, information etc., is somehow going to change minds and make society better. Simply put, this approach is myopic and bankrupt in such a fundamental way it is staggering how many highly educated people fully believe in it. The concept that you can hide the truth, or shape reality by editing out things you do not like does not exist. The Turth (yes with a capital T) is immutable. It exists outside of any desire to hide or change it regardless of any political affiliation or thought.

The arguments for and against AI as a threat all seem to be centered on the point of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). This is the point where the reasons skills of AI are on par with the average human brain. When reached it would mark an evolution in AI. The people saying AI is a threat are trying to slow down progress towards this, while those arguing it is harmless all say we are nowhere near that stage. I have argued that this point is irrelevant in terms of assessing the dangers of a blind rush to build and shove AI into everything.

Geoffrey Hinton, a former engineering fellow at Google and a vice president focusing on AI has made comments after his retirement from Google earlier this month (May 2023). Although his retirement was about more than his change of mind on AI (he was also 75), he has said that his concern has only grown seeing the state of AI and how hard organizations are pushing for it.