More evenly distributed - Cybersecurity and AI

Signals from the future:

Emerging trends that are likely to drive changes to the way we live, work and do business.

Energy:

• 'World’s largest solar project’ breaks ground in Philippines - ABS-CBN News - The Philippines is starting construction on the world's largest solar project, creating jobs and transitioning to cleaner energy.
• China’s Nuclear-Powered Containership: A Fluke Or The Future Of Shipping? - Hackaday - The unveiling of a nuclear-powered container ship in China, highlights its potential to eliminate emissions and enable faster travel.
• A Scottish company has successfully tested oscillating aerofoils it says may convert wind to electricity at ground level, as cheaply and efficiently as current wind turbines. - Katrick Technologies successfully completes first stage of testing for its innovative Wind Panel, surpassing expectations and demonstrating its potential as a disruptive greentech solution.
• Subsea Power Cables: The Future of Global Energy Transport - OilPrice.com - The market for submarine power cables is expected to reach $32.86 billion by 2032, driven by renewable energy needs and cross-border energy sharing. Challenges include high costs and environmental concerns, but R&D efforts and power-sharing agreements are driving growth. The UK is investing in undersea cables, including a $2.27 billion power grid project and collaboration with Denmark's Viking Link. These projects contribute to clean energy goals and international collaboration.

Food and Health:

• AI Unlocks a New Era in Antibiotics: Breakthrough Discovery for Drug-Resistant MRSA - Impact Lab - Artificial intelligence uncovers new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacteria, marking a significant advance in antibiotic discovery.
• Scientists create tomato of the future with some incredible features: 'We can produce crops in new ways' - The Cool Down - Genetically modified tomatoes grow faster, in clusters, and could be grown in small spaces, reducing the burden on farmland and helping to feed people locally.
• Plenty’s high-tech robot farm is transforming traditional agriculture - Interesting Engineering - Revolutionary robot farm uses vertical farming and advanced robotics to increase yields, conserve resources, and provide fresh, high-quality crops year-round.
• A Demographic Time Bomb Is About to Hit the Beef Industry - Wired - The beef industry is targeting younger generations to create a new generation of beef consumers, but younger Americans may have stronger moral opposition to eating beef due to environmental concerns.
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Robotics & Technology:

• AI, Robotics, Space and Other Anticipated Technology for 2024 - NextBigFuture.com - Anticipated technologies for 2024 include AGI advancements, Teslabot on Tesla production lines, FSD technology, Starlink expansion, quantum computing progress, near-room-temperature superconductivity, and longevity research.
• Two robots are patrolling downtown Denver parking garages. Are more coming? - The Denver Post - Robots deployed in Denver parking garages have reduced car thefts and vandalism by over 70%. Autonomous security robots are gaining popularity.
• Seoul to increase AI-backed surveillance to prevent crime - The Korea Herald - Seoul plans to use AI surveillance cameras in parks and hiking trails to prevent crime and improve safety.
• 3D Printed Houses in Texas and Later the Moon - NextBigFuture.com - ICON has developed a 3D printed home construction system called Vulcan, capable of printing resilient, single-story homes faster and with less waste than conventional methods. The company has also received funding from NASA to develop 3D printing for structures on the moon and Mars.

• The metaverse isn’t dead (in fact its future in enterprise is promising) - VentureBeat - The metaverse is evolving beyond traditional virtual worlds and presents significant opportunities in augmented reality and extended reality. It is projected to have a $5 trillion impact by 2030 and can be used in various sectors for learning, development, and industrial applications. However, challenges such as advanced VR technology and social acceptance need to be addressed.
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Focus Issue: Cybersecurity and AI

Surprising nobody, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a double-edged sword in the realm of cybersecurity. On one hand, AI's capabilities are enhancing our defence systems, while on the other, they're offering cybercriminals new tools for attack. The White House's recent Executive Order underscores the importance of managing AI's risks, particularly in the cybersecurity domain, and will shape how the AI industry evolves for the foreseeable future.

AI's impact on cybersecurity is multifaceted. For instance, generative AI is revolutionising how we identify threats, with analysts now able to detect attacks more swiftly and accurately. AI aids in various stages of incident response, from identification to recovery. However, the same technology is being exploited by adversaries to craft sophisticated phishing emails and deepfake videos, as well as to rewrite malware to evade detection. The 2024 US Presidential election seems to be a future information battleground.

Moreover, the European Union is taking a proactive stance, aiming to become a global hub for trustworthy AI. Their comprehensive approach is designed to foster innovation while ensuring AI's human-centric and trustworthy deployment, particularly in high-impact sectors like cybersecurity. Australia is slightly behind without having offered more than 8 lightweight "principles" which don't address cybersecurity risks directly, but industry consultation will likely suggest the need for more guidance if not overall regulation.

One of the more surprising developments is the potential misuse of AI in creating or aiding chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, as highlighted by the White House's order, and has been "red teamed" to find potential risks. This alarming possibility has led to a push for regulations to oversee the training and deployment of AI models in sensitive areas.

Another interesting point is the role of AI in both causing and relieving problems for businesses and organisations. While the introduction of AI tools and technologies can increase risk for businesses, these same tools and technologies can help bridge crucial cybersecurity skills gaps, both technical but also in policy, governance and risk management.

I think the most interesting aspect of this issue is that AI levels the playing field in cybersecurity. Previously, the scales were tipped towards threat actors who could "fail" multiple times against defenders who could only fail once. The threat actor's ability to operate at scale against targets of lower sophistication is being reduced every day by more proactive cybersecurity solutions powered by AI. As more AI-capable compute is pushed out from datacentres to the "edge", this will become even more true and will significantly lift the barrier to threat actors.

But this technology comes with tremendous responsibility, similar to how unlocking nuclear fission and fusion came with their own set of new responsibilities (treaties, non-proliferation, etc.), so too must AI. And because AI is inherently an information technology, it will likely end up in the realm of cybersecurity.

Consider these strategic insights:

• Adopt a Balanced AI Strategy: Australian businesses should leverage AI to enhance cybersecurity defences but also stay vigilant of AI's potential to be used in cyber-attacks. Strategic investment in AI tools and regular review of AI's role in cybersecurity should be a boardroom agenda.
• Upskill the Workforce: The cybersecurity skill gap must be addressed. Businesses should focus on training existing employees and hiring new talent with AI and cybersecurity skills, potentially sourcing from diverse and underserved communities.
• Regulatory Compliance: Companies must stay informed about evolving AI regulations, such as those modelled by the EU, to ensure compliance and trustworthiness in AI deployment, especially as it relates to data privacy and ethical use.
• Enhance Cyber Hygiene Practices: With the increased adoption of AI tools, businesses need to maintain robust cybersecurity hygiene. This includes educating employees, deploying multi-factor authentication, and conducting regular cybersecurity assessments.
• International Collaboration: Engage with global partners to align with international standards and best practices, drawing from frameworks like the White House Executive Order, to manage AI risks and ensure the technology's beneficial use.

Deep strategy:

Longer form articles rich with insights:

• Forage Into The Future #4 - Savant In Space - A lengthy list of links on various future technologies. Provides several links to VC and investment bank 2024 outlooks.
• The Hard Questions to Ask When Planning Your Strategy - Harvard Business Review - Asking hard questions and being brutally honest about the current state of a business is crucial for developing a successful strategy.

Business at the point of impact:

Emerging issues and technology trends can change the way we work and do business.

• Check out the top 10 Futurity posts of 2023 - Futurity - Discover the most popular research findings of 2023, including dating app functions, memory retrieval, sustainable alternatives, and more.
• MIT SMR’s 10 AI Must-Reads for 2023 - MIT Sloan Management Review - Top 10 must-read articles on AI for 2023, exploring ChatGPT's capabilities, ethical challenges, practical use, and responsible AI programs.
• The Top 10 MIT SMR Articles of 2023 - MIT Sloan Management Review - Top 10 articles of 2023 highlight the growing interest in generative AI tools, addressing human challenges in communication and culture within teams.
• Our Favorite Management Tips of 2023 - Harvard Business Review - A compilation of top management tips from the Harvard Business Review's Management Tip of the Day newsletter.
• The worst technology failures of 2023 - MIT Technology Review - Key insights: prioritising innovation over safety has led to major failures in technology, including a fatal incident with a submersible. GM's premature deployment of robotaxis raised safety concerns. Balancing innovation with practicality and safety is crucial. Other topics include plastic pollution, limitations of the Ai Pin device, and controversy surrounding solar geoengineering.
• LinkedIn: Trends set to shape the landscape of work in 2024 - Fortune | FORTUNE - LinkedIn predicts that the increasing involvement of AI in jobs and the popularity of hybrid work will shape the work landscape in 2024.
• Soon, every employee will be both AI builder and AI consumer - ZDNET - Citizen developers may soon replace traditional software engineers as the focus shifts towards natural-language programming and AI becomes more prominent.
• How Some Experts See The Future Of AI In 2024 - Forbes - AI's global market worth is estimated to be $150 billion, expected to grow 20 times by 2030. The article discusses the need for global response to AI challenges, AI's impact on sustainability, the emergence of AI security startups, the increasing use of large language models in commerce, and the need for governance frameworks in AI adoption.
• The Best Return-to-Office Policies Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All - Harvard Business Review - Creating human-centric return-to-office policies that prioritise flexibility, autonomy, and a sense of belonging can enhance employee well-being and productivity.
• 7 business leaders reveal how their companies are embracing AI in 2024 - Business Insider - Business leaders are embracing AI to enhance operations, improve user experiences, and boost productivity while emphasising responsible and ethical use.
• Will AI’s Breakneck Pace Continue? Predictions for the Hottest Thing in Tech - Singularity Hub - AI, specifically OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot, is on the rise in 2023. Competition is fierce, but challenges remain. AI will continue to grow in 2024, integrating into various aspects of life. Scepticism exists, but AI will become ever-present.
• Why we should all be rooting for boring AI - MIT Technology Review - Ethical concerns surround the use of AI in warfare due to catastrophic failures, abuse, lack of accountability, and unpredictable glitches. Instead, focus on low-risk AI applications.
• Touchpoint Personalities: Why classic personas are not (anymore) sufficient for personalized experiences - Blog – Futurelab.net - Traditional personas are limited in creating personalised customer experiences, and touchpoint personalities should be used instead. This method improves customer satisfaction and conversion rates.
• CEOs will finally admit next year that return-to-office mandates didn’t move the productivity needle, future of work experts predict - Fortune - CEOs are realising that mandating a return to the office did not improve productivity. Focus should shift to efficient processes and flexible work options.
• 2024 in tech: The true winners next year will be the companies that do this - ZDNET - Companies that prove AI's value, empower employees, and contribute to human well-being will succeed in 2024.
• Future Insights: CIO And CX Predictions For 2024 And Beyond - Forbes - Key Insight: The future will bring disillusionment with AI, rising cloud computing costs, multicloud strategies, fragmented internet, AI in cybersecurity, rethinking education, personalised medicine, and the debate on universal basic income.