CyberScoop reports that the MITRE Corporation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are working together on a $20 million effort to create two new research centers focused on artificial intelligence and its impact on cybersecurity, including risks to the U.S. critical infrastructure.
The initiative includes one center dedicated to advanced manufacturing and another, the AI Economic Security Center to Secure U.S. Critical Infrastructure from Cyberthreats, focused on protecting essential services such as water, electricity, and internet access from AI-enabled cyberthreats. NIST said the centers will "drive the development and adoption" of AI-based tools, including agentic AI technologies.
According to NIST spokesperson Jennifer Huergo, the centers aim to support technology development needed to protect U.S. leadership in AI, counter adversaries' use of the technology, and reduce risks tied to insecure AI systems. The effort is part of a broader federal investment in AI research at NIST. Industry and government sources contacted by CyberScoop expressed support for stronger collaboration on AI security. Some emphasized the need to involve operators of critical infrastructure, particularly in water and power sectors, to ensure research outcomes can be applied effectively.
