Page 201 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

Scaling Smart: Federal Leaders Prioritize AI

Security and Resilience

By MeriTalk Staff

The biggest threat to artificial intelligence (AI) in government isn’t hype – it’s inertia. As Federal agencies
explore opportunities to integrate AI into mission operations and citizen service functions (alongside
efforts to improve efficiency and reduce costs), they face roadblocks: leadership gaps, legacy
infrastructure, and cybersecurity risk management bottlenecks.

A new study from MeriTalk, Tech Tonic: 2025 Federal CAIO Outlook, highlights a widening gap between
ambition and execution. While AI use cases across government have doubled in the past year, many
agencies are still stuck in pilot mode – hamstrung by limited authority, underfunded initiatives, and a
narrow focus on governance. For cybersecurity leaders, that gap represents more than a missed
opportunity. It’s a growing risk vector that demands increased attention as AI initiatives move forward.
“AI presents a transformative opportunity for government to lead with resilience and innovation by
incorporating security at every stage. For effective adoption of AI in cyber operations, we must stay ahead
of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Thus, it is imperative that pilots move to production so that
challenges with operationalizing AI are addressed swiftly and proactively. Meanwhile, by empowering
CAIOs, investing in powerful infrastructure, and taking a security-first approach, agencies can scale
responsibly and deliver real mission impact.” - Dean Koester, Public Sector Vice President, NVIDIA

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