The agency that oversees the safety of the nation's infrastructure has its first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.

On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said it appointed Lisa Einstein to the role overseeing its efforts to responsibly use AI for cyber defense.

What You Need To Know

  • On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said it appointed Lisa Einstein to the role overseeing its efforts to responsibly use AI for cyber defense

  • The Department of Homeland Security created the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in 2018 to protect the country’s infrastructure

  • Lisa Einstein will be CISA's first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer

  • CISA said “the responsible use of AI is increasingly relevant for the security of critical infrastructure”

“If we succeed, the critical systems that Americans rely on every day will become safer, more reliable and more capable,” Einstein said in a statement. “But we will only reap their benefits and avoid harms from their misapplication or abuse if we all work together to prioritize safety, security and trustworthiness in the development and deployment of AI tools.”

Since 2023, Einstein has served as CISA’s senior advisor for AI.

The Department of Homeland Security created the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in 2018 to protect the country’s infrastructure. The agency coordinates emergency communications plans, preparation and evaluation to help identify the most significant risks, according to its web site.

On Thursday, CISA said “the responsible use of AI is increasingly relevant for the security of critical infrastructure.”

The agency said Einstein’s appointment to the new role is to institutionalize responsible, safe and secure uses of AI within CISA and among its infrastructure partners.

AI can be used to analyze data for patterns that may indicate a cyber threat and can also continuously monitor systems in real time for possible threats and anomalies.