Black Hat and Def Con become a central forum on AI challenges and policy development

The organizers of the 2024 Black Hat and Def Con conferences carved out plenty of time for addressing the artificial intelligence issues sweeping through tech and cybersecurity policy discussions, and this special report offers exclusive coverage from the annual cyber mega-conferences in Las Vegas.

The agenda for this year’s Black Hat, running Aug. 3-8, features for the first time an AI summit on Aug. 6, and the schedule for Black Hat’s signature briefings during the week has prominent spots for key policymakers like Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly discussing the intersection between cyber and AI.

The related Def Con conference, Aug. 9-11, includes appearances by Easterly, retired Gen. Paul Nakosone, the former head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, National Cyber Director Harry Coker, National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger and more, with AI issues at the top of the agenda.

Beyond the cyber luminaries, the conferences include numerous presentations and hands-on workshops that drive home how generative AI and other emerging tech issues have shaken up cybersecurity and other policy considerations.

This special report provides easy access to all our coverage from this year’s Black Hat and Def Con conferences including exclusive interviews, panels featuring industry leaders and top government officials, and presentations from policymakers leading the nation’s cyber efforts.