US bill names N. Korea, Iran among countries of concern in AI cybersecurity initiative

U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at strengthening American cybersecurity defenses against artificial intelligence (AI) attacks, naming North Korea and Iran among countries of concern, congressional data showed Monday. The AI Cyber Defense Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) and Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA) and referred to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with private-sector AI stakeholders to develop voluntary standards and best practices for detecting and preventing AI distillation attacks. The legislation identifies North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and Cuba as countries of concern. The measure would require NIST to engage with private-sector AI stakeholders within 180 days of enactment to establish a definition of so-called AI distillation attacks, and develop voluntary standards and best practices for detecting and preventing them. AI distillation refers to a technique in which knowledge or capabilities from one AI model are transferred to another. The bill would also