“AI Enthusiasm Masks Important Security Issues” • The Register

At a recent federal hearing on AI’s government use, security expert Bruce Schneier highlighted critical risks often overlooked amid discussions of AI’s benefits. While other speakers lauded AI’s potential, Schneier emphasized concerns surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative formerly overseen by Elon Musk, which has been aggressively cutting government jobs and sifting through sensitive data. He warned that DOGE’s careless data management and its excessive confidence in AI could leave national data vulnerable. Schneier stressed that adversaries might already access exfiltrated data, potentially jeopardizing national security. He criticized the practice of processing vast amounts of sensitive information through AI without adequate safety measures, asserting it poses severe risks not just to national infrastructure but to all citizens’ safety. Despite his grave warnings, Schneier’s testimony was largely omitted in the committee’s summary, which favored a more optimistic view of AI’s role in enhancing government efficiency.

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