In case you missed it (or ChatGPT didn’t generate the answer for you), today, July 16^th, is National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day!

In this space, we do our best to share with you the latest information about what’s happening in cyberspace – everything from the latest best practices, free resources and tips to the knowledge and expertise from recognized experts to provide their guidance in a way that’s intended to protect all of us.

That being said, there are few topics related to cybersecurity that have generated more attention, excitement and concern than AI and its tech savvy mechanism, you might say, machine learning.

Yet, for all of the talk about just how rapidly AI is advancing, it’s been around longer than people realize.

In fact, the idea of AI started in 1950 when Alan Turing published "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" and presented the question of whether a machine could "think for itself." Not long after that, in 1956, John McCarthy coined the term "artificial intelligence" while at the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence. McCarthy, along with several other researchers interested in the project, gathered to create systems that could mimic the thought process of humans, including solving problems and improving learning. At the time, the research project brought some of the brightest minds in computing and cognitive science at the time.

There was a period in the 1970s and 1980s where AI advancements were stagnant due to limited advancements in computing power. However, increased data, more powerful hardware, and advanced algorithmic approaches have brought AI to the forefront to where it is today. The development of large language models like Gemini and ChatGPT in the 2020s marked a significant leap, bringing generative AI into the public consciousness and demonstrating AI's incredible potential for creativity and human-like interaction.

Here in Indiana, with cybersecurity and cyber resilience as a priority, AI is beginning to get a good amount of attention, as evidenced by the Hoosier State’s forming of an AI task force and information provided by the Indiana Department of Education that offers an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 education. Focused on AI literacy, instruction and learning, impact, security, and resources, the guidance emphasizes the importance of responsible AI use, critical thinking, and preparing students for an AI-driven future while providing practical guidance for educators and school leaders.

Amid the progress that’s being made statewide and across the country, it’s important to keep in mind that one of the most significant benefits that AI offers is that it is constantly evolving through user interaction. In doing so, that interaction contributes to increasing the intelligence of the AI platform, which is beneficial for increased efficiency and automation for the user because each AI platform has its strengths and unique characteristics. Because of that, AI powers personalized recommendations and adapts to learning the user's needs, customizing their experiences.

Conversely, for all the benefits AI offers, it is certainly now without its challenges and concerns. For instance, in a report by Pew Research, 52 percent of Americans say they feel more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI. And just 10 percent say they are more excited than concerned, while 36 percent say they feel an equal mix of these emotions.

The share of Americans who are mostly concerned about AI in daily life is up 14 percentage points since December 2022, when 38 percent expressed this view.

As with any new technology, it’s safe to say that AI and machine learning are taking a permanent place in our digital lives. The impact that will come, as it progresses, is still, arguably, in our hands, as is the ability to embrace its benefits and the outcomes – for good – that it can provide for all of us.