Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025: Asset or adversary? AI and cyber security in 2025 and beyond

Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

All U of T community members are welcome.

Join University of Toronto CIO Donna Kidwell and three international experts for a one-hour virtual panel exploring the intersection of AI and cyber security—and implications for digital trust. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in our digital systems, it offers us powerful tools but also presents new vulnerabilities. This session will unpack the implications of AI for information security, data integrity and institutional resilience in higher ed and beyond.

Panelists

David Lie

• Professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Toronto and director of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society.
• Expert in computer security and systems architecture.

Patricia Thaine

• Co-founder and CEO of PrivateAI and University of Toronto alumna.
• Specialist in privacy-preserving technologies and AI ethics.

Mickey Mancenido

• Associate professor of statistics at Arizona State University.
• Human‑centered AI researcher and expert in statistical and human factors engineering.

Together, panelists will explore question such as:

• What are our biggest challenges in safeguarding privacy and trust in an AI-driven world?
• How can AI tools and techniques help us bolster our cyber security efforts? What role do powerful AI systems play in executing cyber threats and attacks?
• What do we mean when we talk about human‑centered AI?
• How does the intersection of AI and cyber security play out specifically in the higher ed context, where high-value data is plentiful? What can we do with that data to empower our communities? What can we do for that data to protect our communities?

All members of the University of Toronto community are welcome to join for accessible insights and practical takeaways.

Bring your questions for the panelists!

Registration

To register for the event, visit the official event page.