Permian AI meeting covers cybersecurity risks for firms
Permian AI meeting covers cybersecurity risks for firms
https://www.mrt.com/business/article/permain-ai-cybersecurity-business-risks-tx-22322704.php
Publish Date: 2026-06-26 16:40:00
Source Domain: www.mrt.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. Cybersecurity training has become ubiquitous among companies and everyday internet users as computer users are warned about phishing, smishing and hacking. But the rise of artificial intelligence has sent cybersecurity experts back to the drawing board.Protecting businesses in the age of AI was the focus of a recent meeting of the Permian AI Collaborative.“The internet 30 years ago was a small water pipe,” said Justin Stephenson, founder of Base Layer Technology. Then it got bigger and bigger until now the internet “is as big as a house with increased speeds. Everyone’s using it for shopping, for gaming, for instant connections. Businesses want the same thing.”Bad actors wanted to exploit internet users, he pointed out, so experts developed a series of tools to protect internet users. But since the initial release of OpenAI in 2022, “it feels like we’ve stepped back 20 years.”In the oil patch, he said operations like hydraulic fracturing or pumping can be exploited by hackers who use AI to generate false run tickets or invoices or take control of those operations.Stephenson explained that AI is so powerful it can build a playbook that tells bad actors how to exploit internet users. Even more significantly, he said AI makes those tools available to everyday people who don’t need to be computer experts.“You can get on AI and learn about AI,” he said.Phishing and smishing are still around, and AI is being used to generate false videos and photos, or even pornographic images. Stephenson cited an example from an election in Ireland in which AI was used to claim a candidate had dropped out of a race and there was no need to vote.“We have to develop a new level of detection and awareness,” he said.Businesses concerned about security in the age of AI should tell their employees to only use safe and approved AI programs that the company subscribes to and be aware of why they’re using AI.“Follow the policies and procedures,” he advised. And continue awareness training by reviewing policies and standards and what employees should watch for.Devising those policies and standards doesn’t have to be complex, he added, but can be as simple as answering questions about what can be used.
