In Reston, Virginia, an unprecedented gathering of artificial intelligence (AI) experts from various government agencies and industry partners marked the first AI tabletop exercise organized by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). This four-hour exercise aimed to not only enhance preparedness but also to foster coordinated responses to AI-related cybersecurity incidents. As the digital landscape increasingly relies on AI systems, the need for robust cybersecurity measures becomes paramount. The collaborative nature of the exercise highlights the importance of operational collaboration and information-sharing protocols among all participants, bringing a fortified approach to addressing simulated cyber incidents involving AI-enabled systems.CISA Director Jen Easterly emphasized the collective effort required to mitigate AI risks, underscoring the necessity of designing AI products with security as a primary focus. The exercise also contributes significantly to the development of JCDC.AI’s AI Security Incident Collaboration Playbook. This playbook is a key resource expected to facilitate coordinated incident response between government entities, industry leaders, and global partners, setting the stage for a synchronized response to potential AI-induced threats. The overarching trend identified from the exercise is a heightened focus on the security and resilience of AI systems, illustrated by the collaborative efforts and strategic development of comprehensive playbooks.
