Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community. Listen here.

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Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California

Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver

James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu

Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University

Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM

Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover

Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow

Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford

Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University

Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

DEFCON and Black Hat 2025 U.S. Conference provided valuable insights that strongly resonated with Sisley-L's mission and work to keep cybersecurity safe.

By: GlobePRwire

August 15, 2025 at 04:37 AM EDT

Las Vegas, NV – August 15, 2025 – Beyond merely exposing vulnerabilities, these premier cybersecurity events held last week showcased how artificial intelligence (AI) fundamentally transforms the digital security landscape across both offensive and defensive domains.

Black Hat USA is one of the world's leading cybersecurity conferences, known for its technical briefings and cutting-edge research presentations aimed at industry professionals, government agencies, and security researchers. Held annually in Las Vegas, it sets the tone for the future of cybersecurity innovation and defense strategy.

DEFCON, held immediately afterwards, is the largest and most renowned hacker convention in the world. More grassroots and community-driven, DEFCON brings together hackers, engineers, activists, and tinkerers to share ideas, showcase hacks, and foster collaboration across disciplines.

In today’s rapidly evolving threat environment, experts at both conferences illustrated how AI once met with skepticism in security circles—is now being harnessed as a powerful tool for detection, defense, and digital resilience. Much like SISLEY-L’s own explorations in art, NFTs, and blockchain, the cybersecurity world is finding deep synergies with AI in the following ways:

1. AI vs. AI: The Battle of Generative Offense and Defensive Intelligence

A central theme at Black Hat 2025 was the escalating arms race between malicious generative AI tools and the defensive AI systems built to stop them. Attendees witnessed real-world demonstrations of AI-generated phishing emails, deepfake voice attacks, and other sophisticated threats. In response, defenders are deploying AI-driven detection models trained on vast, diverse threat datasets, highlighting how both sides are leveraging generative technologies in an ongoing battle for control.

2. Open AI Tools Empowering the Community

Embodying the open-source spirit of the cybersecurity field, this year’s event showcased powerful AI-driven innovations ranging from community-trained models for malware reverse engineering to real-time phishing detection platforms tailored for smaller organizations, as well as AI assistants designed to help ethical hackers safely generate and test attack scenarios. These developments illustrate how AI can democratize access to advanced cybersecurity capabilities, empowering defenders at every level.

3. The Human Element: Still Central, Now More Than Ever

Despite advances in automation, one clear takeaway was that cybersecurity remains deeply human-driven. Through conversations with researchers, developers, and practitioners, SISLEY-L witnessed firsthand how collaboration, ethical responsibility, and shared knowledge continue to shape the future of AI in security. The community’s commitment to transparency and cooperation underscores that real progress is made when humans and machines work together.

What became unmistakably clear at DEFCON and Black Hat 2025 is that AI in cybersecurity is no longer theoretical, it’s a powerful reality being shaped by those who understand both its potential and its risks.

For SISLEY-L, the experience affirmed a shared vision; that the intersections of AI, digital art, blockchain, and security are fertile ground for innovation. By embracing cutting-edge research and applying it across new creative and technological frontiers, she remains committed to not only exploring these intersections but also contributing to a collective effort to solve real-world problems together.