SCP&CO, a private investment and fund management firm focused on emerging technology platforms, is pleased to announce that Managing Director and General Partner Karim Hijazi is a keynote speaker at the prestigious Middle East and North Africa Information Security Conference (MENA ISC) on September 12-13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Established in 2010, MENA ISC is a leading cybersecurity conference for the Middle East region, which explores cutting-edge issues and technologies with globally renowned speakers, breakthrough companies and industry luminaries. This year’s event, themed “Cognitive Cyber,” highlights the critical transformation underway in cybersecurity through advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
“I am honored to be speaking at this year’s MENA ISC, and I look forward to discussing the vast complexities now emerging with new AI models and capabilities,” said Hijazi. “We are entering uncharted territory with AI and both the opportunities and costs will be enormous. This is one of the most profound issues we will face in our lifetimes and it poses many fundamental challenges for businesses and governments. It is absolutely vital that we develop the proper capabilities for ensuring the security, integrity and reliability of AI systems.”
Hijazi’s keynote, “Challenges and Opportunities for Trust and Authenticity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” reveals the complex new risk environment that is being created by AI, as well as the technology’s potential for radically transforming current cybersecurity capabilities. These issues are a key focus of Hijazi’s role at SCP&CO, where the former U.S. intelligence community contractor is developing the firm’s investment strategy for the emerging field of authenticity technologies to counter the growing uncertainties, risks and disruptive potential posed by AI and other rapidly evolving technologies. Hijazi’s accomplished background as a pioneer of cyber threat intelligence and a former Director of Intelligence for Mandiant lends him unique insights into the enormous implications of AI.
AI development and adoption are growing rapidly around the globe. In the cybersecurity field, analysts are predicting the market size for AI will expand at a CAGR of 24.3% from 2022 to 2030. However, while businesses are rushing to adopt this new technology, the risks are beginning to accelerate too. According to the AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Incidents and Controversies Repository (AIAAIC), reported issues were 26 times greater in 2021 than in 2012.
Among the many potential challenges posed by AI, Hijazi’s talk will focus on several critical areas:
- Lack of transparency in AI development, training data, algorithms and how AI actually “thinks”
- Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in AI, and the potential for attacks, “infection” and “jailbreaking”
- Bias and unfair discrimination could be amplified by some AI systems
- Excessive dependency on AI could create massive new areas of risk
- AI weaponization by nation-states and criminal actors
The talk will also analyze the significant opportunities AI is creating for the cybersecurity industry, particularly in threat detection, authentication, malware prevention, incident response and continuous monitoring.
For more information, visit MENA ISC at www.menaisc.com, or learn more about SCP&CO’s focus on emerging technologies at www.scpandco.com and www.theauthenticityfund.com.
ABOUT SCP&CO
SCP&CO is a private investment and fund management firm focused on emerging technology platforms, innovation and value investments. The firm leverages direct investing and managed funds to invest in businesses where it can provide strategic and operational impact to accelerate profitable growth. Depending on the investment vehicle, the firm invests in control positions, growth capital or venture capital to help startups and existing businesses build growing, profitable and enduring businesses. Learn more at www.scpandco.com.
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