New paper clarifies emerging AI ecosystem at critical time in technology’s development
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Paladin Global Institute, led by former Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden, released a new report entitled “The AI Tech Stack: A Primer for Tech and Cyber Policy.” This report identifies each layer of the “AI technology stack” – the layered collection of technologies used to build and deploy AI systems – and provides policy, tech, and cyber practitioners with a framework for understanding AI systems.
“This report gives policy, tech, and cyber professionals a digestible way to understand the dynamic landscape of AI and where their domains intersect, with the goal of helping craft effective security and policy solutions that allow AI to be deployed with minimal risks,” said Kemba Walden, President of Paladin Global Institute. “This framing will give policymakers and tech innovators the tools to take an informed approach to AI security.”
The report outlines the array of security risks, vulnerabilities, impacts, and security solutions associated with the AI technology stack.
The report defines the stack’s layers as:
- Governance: The framework that wraps around the whole AI technology stack. It aims to ensure responsible deployment through security protocols, legal constraints, ethical principles, and policies.
- Application: The user interface that transforms complex AI capabilities into accessible tools through browsers, APIs, dashboards, and other user interfaces.
- Infrastructure: The essential computational foundation that powers AI systems, enabling the intensive demands of training and inference through specialized hardware, cloud platforms, and energy resources.
- Models: The core computational component that processes data according to sophisticated algorithms to recognize patterns and generate predictions or decisions. This includes the machine learning approaches that enable systems to learn without explicit programming.
- Data: The foundation of AI systems, providing the raw material that fuels models. The quality, diversity, and quantity of this data largely determine the intelligence and capabilities of the final model.
Practitioners must successfully integrate security throughout each layer to lead the digital economy while also establishing the principles that ignite innovation, define responsible AI development, and protect national security.
With the help of this report, policy, tech, and cyber professionals will have a better understanding of AI’s emerging landscape and the importance of working together across the AI ecosystem to build trusted AI systems. This report also provides actionable advice for embedding security and safety considerations throughout the AI development lifecycle to drive the technology forward and ensure it is rooted in trust, safety, and security.
The report was authored by Walden and Paladin Global Institute Senior Director Devin Lynch, who previously served as Director for Cyber Policy and Strategy Implementation at the Office of the National Cyber Director. The former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency Chris Inglis and the founding CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre Ciaran Martin, among others, also contributed.
“AI is a powerful tool, and to unleash its full potential we first need to understand the technology stack,” said Devin Lynch, Senior Director of the Paladin Global Institute. “This primer maps the AI tech stack and identifies its foundational layers to help policymakers tailor secure policy frameworks and innovators to build trustworthy AI systems.”
The Paladin Global Institute was founded by Paladin Capital Group – the multistage investor specializing in cyber and advanced technology – to protect the world’s critical infrastructure from AI, cyber, and deep tech risks.
About Paladin Capital Group
Paladin Capital Group was founded in 2001 and has offices in Washington DC, New York, London, Luxembourg, and Silicon Valley. As a multi-stage, dual-use investor, Paladin’s core strength is identifying, supporting, and investing in innovative companies that develop promising, early-stage technologies to address the critical cyber, defense, and advanced technology needs of both commercial and government customers.
Combining proven investment experience with deep expertise in global security, cyber technology, and cutting-edge research, Paladin has invested in more than 80 companies since 2008 and has been a trusted partner to investors, entrepreneurs, and governments for over two decades.
For more on Paladin Capital Group, follow us on Twitter at @Paladincap and on LinkedIn or visit us at www.paladincapgroup.com.
About Paladin Global Institute
The Paladin Global Institute’s mission is to protect global critical infrastructure from cyber, AI, and deep tech threats and enhance the safety of people online by investing in research and advocacy, making informed policy recommendations, and bringing together the public and private sectors to share knowledge and create and invest in innovative technologies.