It’s been an interesting year so far in AI with several new models and product launches from voice to robotics.

I still feel that the market, especially Wall Street, is trying to grapple with the true value of this technology in the long term. As a city, we are in a similar position. The big question, from countries down to cities, remains, “How will AI make our lives better or worse?”

As for me, I’m looking to continue the course of how Huntsville can most benefit from this technology, even if they are smaller wins to begin with. I can say that the AI Task Force is still quite actively working on that mission and the intent to leverage it to our advantage is still very strong.

One of Huntsville’s major strengths is cybersecurity. AI will both complicate the threats as well as expand the opportunities.

As a leader in this space, and home of the National Cybersecurity Summit, Huntsville is positioned to do so. Speaking of the Cyber Summit, they have an AI track and I’ll be speaking in a breakout session.

In addition to answering this need, I have also had the opportunity to help organize the AICyberCon: The Convergence of AI and Cybersecurity.

In partnership with the AI Research Center at the I2C of UAH and Amplified Security, we have a fantastic lineup of several Fortune 500 companies in the AI and Cyber industry, such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and more.

AI is revolutionizing cybersecurity by enhancing threat detection, improving accuracy, and enabling proactive defense. Through its ability to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, AI can identify both known and unknown threats faster than traditional methods (manual human analysis).

It will reduce false positives, automate routine tasks, and continuously evaluate vulnerabilities, allowing organizations to address weaknesses before they’re exploited. This shift from reactive to proactive security is crucial.

Think of it as a force multiplier for human security professionals. AI systems can adapt and improve over time, becoming increasingly effective at protecting against new cyber risks. As cybercriminals begin to leverage AI in their attacks, AI-powered defenses become essential for maintaining robust security.

Yes, it’s another arms race and the stakes have never been higher.

Ben McGee, CEO of Amplified Security of Huntsville, will be the Emcee.

A longtime influencer within the cybersecurity community, Ben told me “In the last 25 years of my cyber career, I haven’t seen these kinds of major changes to the cyber industry. While people say this is like the internet revolution, there is a major difference. We had time to adjust to the internet, time to make it safe or learn how to leverage. Huge questions exist in the cyber landscape such as increasingly fast and intelligent automated attacks, how AI fits into Zero Trust, and simpler questions like who is even using it in a company without authorization. We have seen greatly useful applications but we want to make sure Huntsville is talking seriously about both sides, implementation and protection.”

AICyberCon aims to address immediate cybersecurity challenges and lay the groundwork for sustained innovation and collaboration in the AI and cybersecurity landscape.

Through AICyberCon, the point is to set a precedent and catalyze connectivity and frameworks for partnerships of dual-use AI and cybersecurity technologies, enhancing national security and fostering innovation across sectors, especially for companies here locally.

I would imagine that many would be interested in this event but I’d suggest that if you are a Cybersecurity or IT professional, a programmer that works in DevSecOps, executives within the intelligence community, and government contracting companies.

Rigved, Director of the I2C and one of the event’s key organizers, wants Huntsville to understand that “AICyberCon, led by ARC and I2C, stands at the intersection of innovation and security. With a dynamic lineup of speakers, this event is where we confront today’s challenges and strategize for the cybersecurity demands of tomorrow. Don’t miss this opportunity—attend for free and be part of the conversation shaping the future.”

Unlike other events I’ve mentioned, I’m not a speaker. I will be a happy fly on the wall, glad to know I did my small part in getting this event to happen. Whether you are in the IT/Cyber world or just interested in the business application of AI, you should attend this event.

Registration is free, but it will happen soon – September 5th on the UAH Campus.

The event is filling up quickly, so please contact Carl Holden on LinkedIn for more information.