AI In Excess?

What You Need

“Hey, here is the story

Forget about the troubles in life

Don't you know, it's not easy

When you gotta walk upon that line

That's why You need

That's why

This is what you need,

I'll give you what you need

Don't you get sad and lonely

You need a change from what you do all day

Ain't no sense in all your crying

Pick it up and throw it into shape

...Don't you see its a rhythm

I'll take you where you really need to be

...That's right, I'll take you”

Song: What You Need; Songwriters: Andrew Farriss / Michael Hutchence, band INXS (1985)

In Excess – Is It What You Need?

I love song lyrics and recalling their impact then and now. You may have noticed how current TV and Live Stream commercials in the US are full of 1980s music. Are they setting or following a trend? Watch for that list of 80s music in my future newsletters. ?

INXS, the phonetic play on the words "in excess," is the name of the Australian rock band formed in Sydney in the late 1970s, later renamed to INXS. I thought of their songs from the 1980s and 1990s this week, in particular, What You Need.

The song does not have a lot of lyrics, and the songwriters did not reveal the meaning. The meaning is for you to interpret. This single by INXS stands out on the global stage.

What You Need came to mind when I was called out for being “too risk averse” by someone who loves AI tools. They see no evil and hear no evil about artificial intelligence. Am I over the top, as he suggests, in clarifying AI risks and benefits?

“Who cares about risk awareness at a time when we have profound technology to use,” he said sternly. I replied, “Indeed, you have your risk tolerance level.”

AI risk is a choice, like any other risk. To a great extent, you control your safety and security.

Flashback to London

A British Gentleman rescued me at a major conference in the London Market. I was speaking on stage and moderating a panel on US Environmental Pollution Law, Emerging Risks, and Insurance. An audience member rose and shouted: “You US lawyers are the ones cleaning up!” Then the Gentleman stood and said: “Now, now, let the lady continue. She is here to make us aware of the risks and we need to know about them.”

He became my mentor as I continued to speak and write while working in London. Without his encouragement, I may not have helped the clients and organizations that I have. One person can try to distract you. Another person can flip the script and motivate you to keep going.

Tip the Scales in Your Favor

From my perspective, it’s about two things, fundamentals and value.

If you only see half of the AI equation, you can forget about risk awareness and take your chances. Easy. Roll the dice. Why care?

If you are looking to get real value from your shiny new AI tool, you should think about your high, medium, and low risks, and how you are going to explain taking those risks to your Board, shareholders, insurers, and loyal customers.

Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence

One year ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). The Executive Order directed sweeping actions to manage AI’s safety and security risks, protect Americans’ privacy, advance equity and civil rights, stand up for consumers and workers, promote innovation and competition, advance American leadership around the world, and more.

Fact Sheet: Key AI Accomplishments in the Year Since the Biden-Harris Administration’s Landmark Executive?Order

One year later, on October 30, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that Federal agencies have completed on schedule each action that the Executive Order tasked for this past year—more than one hundred in all.?

The Fact Sheet includes some of the Administration’s most significant accomplishments in managing AI’s risks and seizing its promise in the year since President Biden signed his Executive Order. The first accomplishment is:

Managing Risks to Safety and Security

The Executive Order directed the boldest actions ever taken to protect Americans from a broad range of AI’s safety and security risks, including risks related to dangerous biological materials, software vulnerabilities, and foreign actors’ efforts to develop AI for harmful purposes.

I will address details of the five accomplishments in future newsletters.

Actions to Take Now

You can create an AI governance role in-house to guide you. Keep in mind, that the United States is striving for better, more relevant regulations in the coming years.

In the meantime, you need an overview of where you stand now, as you push the button to integrate AI into your business processes and functions.

Have you completed basic risk awareness training and communications for year-end and new-year reporting?

Not Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind

Recent studies reveal that social engineering is still not on the radar of business leaders and their employees decades after cybersecurity experts warned about this risk.

Other studies indicate that half of hybrid workers and their managers are not receiving training, let alone AI and cyber risks training. How are you managing your hybrid teams?

Now, with AI tools, the risk is greater, and thus, risk awareness and risk-based actions matter.

Take a problem, like social engineering, and ignore it, knowing that hackers and fraudsters have easy access to low-cost AI tools, like generative AI, to improve the sophistication of phishing email campaigns. They win and you lose if you resist safety and security.

Boards want answers about risk management, including AI and cybersecurity. Who has the answers? You hold the key to your safety and security through risk awareness and action.

CTA

What You Need ?

I encourage you to consider opportunities to become risk-aware and manage risks. Schedule a free consultation to see if you or someone you know should work with me. DM me here or visit the contact page on my website at https://thecyberdawn.com/contact-me/ .

Let's make you and your organization risk-aware so you can take intentional risk management steps sooner rather than later.

Thanks for your time,

Dawn