When the world confronted COVID-19, I watched one thing outstanding occur. Synthetic intelligence (AI) methods, which I had as soon as considered as instruments of analysis and effectivity, immediately turned devices of survival. They modelled outbreaks, predicted surges and accelerated vaccine analysis. But on the identical time, I witnessed one other silent battle unfold a digital one. Well being organizations, analysis establishments and even vaccine provide chains turned targets of cyberattacks. For me, it was a turning level that strengthened a easy reality: AI can’t strengthen public well being with out cybersecurity at its core.
Over time, working on the intersection of information, AI and cloud security for healthcare and life sciences organizations, I’ve seen how transformative clever methods may be. However I’ve additionally seen how fragile they’re when belief, information integrity and governance aren’t constructed into their basis. Right this moment, as nations put together for future pandemics, we should deal with cybersecurity not as a assist perform however as a important enabler of readiness. The success of future pandemic preparedness will rely on whether or not we construct reliable, safe and moral AI methods from the bottom up.
The increasing digital frontline
AI-driven pandemic preparedness relies on huge information ecosystems from genomic sequencing labs and hospital networks to linked sensors that monitor inhabitants well being tendencies. These methods trade thousands and thousands of information factors every hour, enabling quicker choices. However each linked gadget, each mannequin coaching pipeline and each information integration level expands the assault floor.
