Talk Title:  Why Would We Ever Trust AI???

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence is changing almost every aspect of technology. But like many technologies before it, AI has been designed with one key weakness: trust. AI has been designed to trust the data that it’s built on, the systems that it runs on, and the users that it interacts with. AI systems aren’t magic – and just like other technologies Zero trust is still the most powerful strategy we have for protecting it. In this presentation, we explore the critical intersection of Zero Trust and artificial intelligence (AI), addressing the unique security challenges posed by increasingly autonomous systems. As AI technologies evolve, so do the vulnerabilities they introduce. George will discuss the principles of Zero Trust and how these can be applied to AI systems to safeguard data integrity and user privacy. Key takeaways for the audience include actionable strategies for implementing Zero Trust in AI environments, insights into the implications of AI misuse, and best practices for fostering a sustainable culture of zero trust in tech development. Attendees will leave equipped with a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate the complexities of securing AI systems in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Keynote Speaker Bio

George Finney serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for The University of Texas System to protect over 170,000 employees and more than 250,000 students across 14 institutions. In this capacity he works with each U.T. System institution CISO and their teams to continually improve their security posture and capabilities.

George was inducted into the CISO Hall of Fame in 2025, was the recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge Award for Cybersecurity Leadership in 2024, and was recognized in 2023 as one of the top 100 CISOs in the world. George is the bestselling author of several cybersecurity books, including the hall of fame inductee Project Zero Trust and the Book of the Year Award winning, Well Aware. George has worked in cybersecurity for over 20 years helping startups, global corporations, and nonprofits improve their security posture. George received his Juris Doctorate from SMU where he was the CISO and is a licensed attorney.