Snehal Antani, CEO - Horizon3.ai

Snehal Antani, co-founder and CEO of Horizon 3.ai, discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in defense at Soft Week 2023 with Francis Rose. Antani highlighted two primary themes of AI in defense: improving understanding and accelerating decision-making, and driving mission capability, particularly in offensive cyber operations. He emphasized the transformative power of AI in cyber warfare, with algorithms capable of making decisions at a significantly higher rate than humans. Antani also addressed the challenges of cyber resilience on the battlefield and in supply chains, noting the vulnerability of software-defined equipment and just-in-time logistics systems. He predicted that adversaries would adopt AI-based cyber operations rapidly, outpacing defensive improvements, leading to a strategic and technique competition rather than a hardware one.

Key Takeaways

1. AI's Dual Role in Defense: AI is crucial for both enhancing decision-making processes and driving mission capabilities, especially in offensive cyber operations.
2. Cyber Resilience Challenges: The defense community must confront the vulnerabilities of software-defined equipment and supply chains, anticipating significant threats in cyber warfare.
3. Adapting to AI-Driven Cyber Operations: Antani warns of a swift adoption of AI-based cyber attacks by adversaries, urging a strategic shift in defense processes to address the rapid decision-making capabilities of AI and overcome human-centric bottlenecks.