Last week I attended the launch of Northumbria University’s UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence (CCAI). That’s a bit of a mouthful.
Northumbria has received a grant to engage 60 PhD candidates in the CDT’s place-based civic mission, dedicated to ensuring that the transformative power of AI benefits all communities, especially those who are most affected by digital advancements. By training our researchers, it says, we are empowering them to understand the specific needs of the region and to champion inclusive, citizen-centred AI solutions.
Why was I there you may ask? (I attended in my capacity as a representative of CyberNorth.)
Firstly it was a chance to get closer to Northumbria University, not that I have ever been that far away and secondly AI is an area in which the region’s cyber security sector should be innovating. Thirdly, it doesn’t hurt to raise CyberNorth’s profile and meet new people.
To be honest I’m still not convinced that AI is really a thing, artificial yes but intelligence no. From conversations I had I’m not the only one but It’s the latest thing and mentioning it can open doors. It’s this year’s must have buzzword.
It was well attended with about 60 people there. including at least a dozen partner organisations, us being one of them and I took the opportunity to do what I do best and get in amongst them, rekindling old acquaintances and making new ones. Conveniently, I’d brought along some business cards to pass around. Which went down well.
These are exciting times and AI is just another thing for the cyber security sector to contend with. As with most human inventions it is both a curse and a blessing. AI has the potential, one which is already being realised, to make it much easier for bad actors to attack while on the other hand it is being used to make the defence process more effective. With threat comes opportunity and there is no reason why the region cannot provide the innovation required to address the rapidly changing security environment.
Having the CDT at the heart of the region will help.
You can find out more here.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 