RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The University of Nevada hosted a conference Thursday about the role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, a topic experts called a double-edged sword.Cybersecurity experts said the best approach is to use AI while recognizing the risks it holds and staying one step ahead of the threats it creates.The UNR cybersecurity director, Shamik Sengupta, said the conference focused on AI cyber versus cyber-AI. That means discussing the cybersecurity of AI, including how to make it safe, the risks, and how to use it properly, the director said. It also means balancing those topics with how AI can benefit and grow cybersecurity. Sengupta said the question is no longer if AI is used, but how. The event brought together people from all sectors, from students to industry leaders.Sengupta emphasizes how conversations about how to implement AI in cybersecurity while also protecting it are critical for smart growth.Many people fear criminal use of AI technology. Leaders acknowledge fears the public may have and said these conversations are critical to establish strict, protective, and ethical standards.Experts call cyber-AI a double-edged sword that contains risks and rewards. They said it can improve defenses but also empower cyber criminals.“The best way to go about it is using a balanced approach,” Jack Donelson, UNR senior and Team Leader of Nevada Cyber Range Security Operations Center, said. “So being able to acknowledge the fears that people have about AI specifically, how it’s being used in corporate environments and with data and security, but also at the same time acknowledging the benefits specifically with software patching, vulnerability finding, and other use cases. So being able to find those balances too could be able to achieve a pretty good outcome.”Researchers found that implementing proper safeguards and infrastructure makes businesses and cybersecurity more efficient overall.“As we keep advancing AI, and really working with it and training it to help it, I think it’s going to help advance our ability to become more secure, but at the same time the attackers are also advancing their capabilities to attack us, and so we need to move at the same speed, and that’s the difficult balance,” said award-winning cybersecurity leader and author Heather Case-Hall. Case-Hall explains that AI has become a powerful tool in society, so talking about its complexity is needed to keep it safe. All the leaders interviewed at the conference said they were excited to have these conversations and expand their knowledge. The conference also introduced high school students to cybersecurity.Experts said the focus is on finding a balance between allowing AI to support humanity and implementing ethical and protective standards.Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
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