AI as Critical Infrastructure: US Report Urges Designation

A new report suggests the U.S. government should designate the artificial intelligence sector as critical infrastructure. This is due to its growing importance and vulnerability to cyberattacks. The report, from Americans for Responsible Innovation, wants the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, to lead cybersecurity efforts for AI. It defines the AI sector broadly, including organizations, technologies, and industries involved in developing and operating AI systems. This covers frontier models, data centers, and AI-specific hardware. Authors argue the AI sector already acts like critical infrastructure, being connected to public and private services. A single attack on the AI "stack" could cause widespread problems across many industries. The U.S. is especially vulnerable to supply chain disruptions because many frontier AI companies and computing resources are located here. Recent attacks on data centers show these assets are at risk from both physical and cyber threats. Designating AI as critical infrastructure would unlock federal resources for better security. This could impact how the government protects vital technological advancements.