SEI Cyber Talks

SEI Quantum Computing team members Dr. Jason Larkin, Daniel Justice, and Matias Jonsson discuss what Jonsson is learning as a student intern in quantum computing, applications where quantum computing can offer advantages over classical computers, and where they think the quantum field is going.

Jason Larkin and Daniel Justice come back with Matias Jonsson to give updates on the Quantum Project. The team continues to search for useful NISQ era quantum algorithms! Watch as Matias shares his findings, the team touches on their strategies for research and Justice gets corrected on true nature of the NP-Completeness (or lack thereof) of Shor’s algorithm!  (Recorded March 2020)

SEI Quantum Computing team members Dr. Jason Larkin, Daniel Justice, and Matias Jonsson discuss what Jonsson is learning as a student intern in quantum computing, applications where quantum computing can offer advantages over classical computers, and where they think the quantum field is going.

The ability to augment our abilities by partnering with an AI systems to solve complex problems is very compelling. In this Cyber Talk, SEI researchers Carol Smith, Andrew Mellinger, and Ritwik Gupta discuss the exciting challenges and opportunities for human–machine teaming and artificial intelligence.

Join us as Tom Longstaff and Rotem Guttman walk through the Software Engineering Institute’s plans for how to advance the science of artificial intelligence engineering. Topics addressed will include both the opportunities expected and challenges foreseen in integrating the promise of AI technology with the needs of the Department of Defense.

Ritwik Gupta and Elli Kanal explain what ransomware is, what it can do to your computer, and how you can help prevent infections using the concept of cyber hygiene. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the files on a computer, preventing the user from accessing them. The attacker then extorts the user by requesting a ransom in exchange for the key that unlocks the files. In this Cyber Talk episode, Ritwik Gupta and Elli Kanal explain how ransomware can infect a computer, and they discuss examples of how criminals have targeted single computers as well as large systems to explain what can happen when ransomware infects a system. To prevent ransomware attacks, Gupta and Kanal explain the concept of “cyber hygiene,” which refers to a set of basic practices that users can perform to decrease the risk of getting infected by malware. They stress the importance of developing an awareness for cyber hygiene, especially after the advent of the Internet of things, which has increased the number of devices that are susceptible to infection, including phones, cars, refrigerators, and more.

Rotem Guttman and Zach Kurtz explain what deepfakes are, how they work, and what kind of content it’s possible to create with current techniques and technology. The term “deepfake” refers to the use of machine learning to produce content for essays or to modify photos and videos. When it comes to photos and videos, the images are often so realistic that viewers are not able to tell that they are fake. In this Cyber Talk episode, Rotem Guttman and Zach Kurtz explain the kinds of machine learning that people use to create deepfakes, how they work, and what kind of content it’s possible to produce with current technology. Rotem and Zach also cover the techniques people use to create fraudulent content. Such techniques include using an actor to film a video and then replacing the actor’s face with someone else’s, as well as more advanced methods that can reproduce a person’s body movements, voice, speech, and facial expressions to make that person appear to say or do something that he or she did not actually say or do. Finally, they discuss the current limitations of these technologies and techniques, and they forecast advances that might occur in the coming years.

Tom Longstaff and Grace Lewis discuss how the inclusion of minorities and women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers can promote a nation’s progress by increasing its ability to innovate.

The fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) can contribute to a nation’s progress because they promote innovation and improve many aspects of our lives. However, statistics show there is an imbalance in the workforce because women and minorities are less likely to pursue careers in STEM fields. In this Cyber Talk episode, Tom Longstaff and Grace Lewis discuss how fixing this imbalance can help promote even greater innovation in STEM fields. Grace and Tom examine what true diversity means, and how representation not just in terms of race and gender, but also in terms of culture and backgrounds, can promote different points of view and lead to the discovery of new solutions to problems that STEM researchers are trying to solve. They discuss how to promote diversity by reaching out to students at the right age and involving mentors from underrepresented groups to help break stereotypes about what it means to work in a STEM field. They also explore different kinds of approaches and programs that are effective for schools, universities, and places of work—including FFRDCs like the SEI—to get students interested and involved in STEM fields.

Today’s airplanes use automation to assist pilots during flights. Airplane computers often take control of navigation, they have the capability of performing landing and takeoff maneuvers, and they can make decisions over many aspects of the flight. As automation continues to expand, however, conflicts can arise if a human pilot needs to take immediate control of an airplane because of an unexpected event, but the computer blocks the pilot from doing so. In this cyber talk episode, Elli Kanal and Mike Philips discuss some of the dangers that can occur during handoff of control between humans and computers. They also discuss how to manage risk during handoffs—especially during unexpected events—to ensure the safe operation of the airplane and its recoverability in the face of a crisis. To address the possibility of better human-computer interaction, they consider a system that uses artificial intelligence to interact with pilots so that they can reach conclusions, make decisions, and help resolve issues more quickly and accurately than pilots or computers could on their own. In addition, they explore design issues that could hamper human-computer interactions.

Humans have been playing games since pre-historic times. Games has been used throughout history not only for enjoyment, but to build skills in a fun and engaging way. Today’s games are no different. Join us as Tom Longstaff, CTO of the Software Engineering Institute speaks with Rotem Guttman, a cybersecurity and educational gamification researcher on how to design experiences that motivate while they teach.