A Human to Know: Lydia Kostopoulos

Not many people can say they create AI-themed artwork while strategizing about the future of war. Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos, however, isn’t like most people.

Lydia, who holds a PhD in Security Policy and is on the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-USA AI Policy Committee, became interested in technology and international security while studying national security in college in the Middle East during 9/11. Now, she is an internationally-recognized speaker on the convergence between people, technology, and national security—studying everything from artificial intelligence developments to fashion tech.

I recently spoke with Lydia about the cutting-edge work she’s doing to make the digital world a safer and more understandable place. An edited version of the interview is below.

We hear a lot about cybersecurity, but often not in context with other technological developments, like in biology or physics. What do you think is most important to understand about technological convergence?

From a cyber perspective, cyberspace permeates through many technologies, and cybersecurity as a continuously-evolving field will find itself in unexpected places—for example, the body. With an increase in biohacking where people are putting technologies in their bodies, the threat landscape will grow. The developments in brain computer interface will create a host of ethical and security questions, as will advancements in “mind uploading.” Outside of the body, robotics, the internet of things, and smart cities will challenge cybersecurity professionals in new ways as the threat-scape expands. Cyber solutions that use artificial intelligence will become more prevalent as the threats increase in speed and scope, while the algorithms themselves will also need to be protected. It’s an exciting time to be in the tech security field!

You’ve spoken to a host of audiences all around the world—what do you see as the biggest misconceptions when it comes to understanding cyber?

The biggest misconception I used to come across was that 100% security exists. Due to the many breaches in top-tier organizations, I think that misconception is no longer as common. However, the misconception that continues to exist throughout the world is that cybersecurity is the designated “cyber person’s” problem, when in fact it is a whole-of-enterprise problem which includes every single person, from the end user who can fall victim to a social engineer, to the business strategist who should incorporate cyber posture as a legitimate business priority, to the product and service developers who should practice security by design.

How do you think we can best correct those misconceptions?

Awareness, awareness, awareness! The more creative and fun in its delivery, the better!

What topics are you working on right now?

Quite a few things in tandem. On the national security front, I’m writing and speaking on lethal autonomous weapons systems from a strategic and statecraft perspective. My latest article on this topic is “War is Having an Identity Crisis,” where I propose that we have come to a juncture in autonomous weapons systems advancement that begs the question about how it is we want to fight wars; and more importantly, argue that we must ask ourselves if autonomous-to-autonomous military engagement is how we want to resolve political conflict.

The latest creative project that just came to fruition was #ArtAboutAI, an ongoing effort to leverage art as a medium to raise awareness about artificial intelligence and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse discussion on AI developments. The first debut exhibit took place in Washington D.C., and the next one is going to be in Europe. I plan to continue expanding the collection to include more on adversarial AI and relevant social questions.

In the same spirit of raising awareness, I just started working on a book that explains technologies affecting humanity. The intent is to create a resource for understanding these technologies, so that the public can form ethical and moral opinions of their own. Deviating from traditional book-writing formats, I will be releasing the chapter drafts are they are ready and will look to my network for feedback around their take on the technologies, which I will incorporate into the final version. It currently has three parts which explore technologies around human augmentation, human replacement, and human mortality.

On the fashion front, I’m resuming work on “Empowering Workwear by Lydia,” my line of functional workwear for women. I’m currently working with folks to bring the line to market in an ethical, sustainable and environmentally-conscious way. And while I’m still in the early stages on the fashion tech / R&D side, I’m exploring ways to incorporate cyber elements into the suits.

What about the next 10 years—where do you see technological convergence headed?

Spectacular places—many of which we can’t imagine right now. But one obvious place is the cognification of technology. The leading AI scientists compare artificial intelligence to electricity in the impact it’s going to have. Just like when electricity came along and then everything became electrified, so to speak, with AI everything will become cognified. The convergence of electricity, internet (and satellite internet tech), and artificial intelligence will bring about a smart, responsive, and ever-present cognified environment. This will come with obvious benefits and ethical conundrums, and time will tell how we respond to these developments. My hope is that in the coming decades, there will be inclusive and diverse conversations about the issues as we look to hand our technology forward.

How can we best prepare for that future?

Become as multi-disciplinary as possible, while keeping an open mind. Following different accounts on social media and signing up to newsletters outside one’s field are great ways to start understanding the different areas of development. After that, I believe with curiosity and problem-solving-attitudes, creative solutions will come about from the most unexpected places.