TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES JOINS US IN STUDIO FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION.

>>> AND CONCERNS OVER INTERNAL DATA BREACHES INVOLVING EMPLOYEES TRAINED IN A.I.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA'S SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES RECENTLY CERTIFIED THE RESULTS OF ARIZONA'S 2024 GENERAL ELECTION.

UNLIKE THE PAST TWO ELECTIONS, NO CLAIMS OF FRAUD, INDEED, THIS YEAR'S VOTE WENT MUCH THE SAME WAY AS MUCH OF ARIZONA'S ELECTIONS PRIOR.

JOINING US NOW IS ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK, TED.

TED: GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ELECTION.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT.

JUST THIS MORNING, THE 11 ELECTORS FROM ARIZONA CAST THEIR BALLOTS AND WE TRANSMITTED ALL OF THAT TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> NO TROUBLE, NO FOOLING AROUND HERE?

>> WELL, WE HAD USUAL MINOR HICCUPS HERE AND THERE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST, SMOOTHEST ELECTIONS WE'VE SEEN IN ARIZONA IN A LONG TIME, BEREFT OF CONTROVERSY, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A GREAT SHOUTOUT TO THE FOLKS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL RAN THESE ELECTIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS -- ONE OF THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS IS THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DISRUPTIONSES, SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONSES ON ELECTION DAY EVEN THOUGH WE SUFFERED OVER 12 BOMB THREATS AT POLLING PLACES OR IN ELECTION OFFICES.

IT WAS THE TRAINING THAT MY OFFICE AND THE OFFICIALS WORKED THROUGH TO BE IN CONTACT WITH AND KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS QUICKLY SO WE HAD MINIMAL DISRUPTIONS.

WE DEALT WITH IT AND HERE WE ARE.

TED: WERE THEY CONCENTRATED IN PARTICULAR AREAS?

>> ONE COUNTY HAD MORE THAN THE OTHERS AND ONE OF OUR SMALLER COUNTIES WHICH CAUGHT US A LITTLE OFFGUARD.

THOSE FOLKS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS, THE FOLKS THEY TRAIN, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS, ALL OF THEIR AGENCIES AND COMMUNICATION THAT WE WORKED UP TOWARDS, GETTING PREPARED FOR THOSE TYPES OF DISRUPTIONS CAME OUT TO PRODUCE A DISRUPTION THAT DIDN'T PRODUCE A DISRUPTIONS.

WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THE WORK IN THE COUNTIES.

TED: LAST POINT, ARE THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE THREATS ONGOING?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THOSE THINGS?

>> THOSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULT IS GOING TO BE.

WE LEAVE THAT IN THE HANDS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THIS WAS A FEDERAL ELECTION SO GENERALLY SPEAKING THOSE FALL UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING I THINK THE AGE OF ELECTION DENIALISM IS FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, DEAD, YOU THINK SO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW FOLKS DISAGREE WITH ME ON THIS.

WE DID THE SAME THING IN 2022 AND THE SAME IN 2020 AND BEFORE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT OR SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO ARIZONA ELECTION LAW, NOR DID WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT OR SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES IN THE FOLKS RUNNING A LOT OF THE ELECTIONS, THOUGH WE DID LOSE A GOOD CHUNK OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT LACK OF EXPERIENCE SHOWED IN A FEW OF THE BUMPS WE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME UP INTO THE SPOTS WERE IN ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE BIT OF TRAINING WE PUSHED FORWARD.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS -- WE RAN A REALLY, REALLY GOOD ELECTION BUT WASN'T THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN 22 OR 20.

FOLKS CONTINUING THIS NONSENSICAL COMPLAINT HAVE BEEN RELEGATED TO THE MARGINS AND NOT GIVEN CREDIBILITY.

TED: THAT'S WHY ELECTION DENIALISM IS DEAD, WHEN ISN'T THIS JUST A REFLECTION OF THE RESULTS?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK SO, AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE FOLKS MORE CREDIT THAN THAT.

I'D LIKE TO ASSUME THE BEST.

I'D LIKE TO ASSUME FOLKS WEREN'T WINING AND COMPLAINING BECAUSE THEIR SIDE LOST.

THEY MAY HAVE HAD LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS, BUT PART OF THE BUILDUP TO 2024 INCLUDED THE POST-20 AND POST-2022 SHARING OF INFORMATION THAT WAS ROBUST.

THE ADDED PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT WE, DID THE COUNTIES DID.

THE ADDED INTEREST IN WHAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE AND HOW THEY'RE RUN.

I'VE LIKENED IT TO THE SLOW ROLLING CIVICS LESSON THAT WE'VE HAD, AND THE QUESTIONS HAVING BEEN ANSWERED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS LED FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS WE DO THE WORK WE DO AND THE FAITH HAS BEEN RESTORED.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEA THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF THREATENING INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE 2020 VOTE?

HE STILL IS HARPING ON THIS.

SO IS IT REALLY DEAD?

>> WELL, THERE'S ONE THING FOR ONE PERSON TO HAVE SOUR GRAPES.

TED: A PRETTY BIG PERSON.

>> SURE, HE'S THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.

BUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO GLOM ONTO IT, LOOK AT THE POLITICAL CAREERS OF ELECTION DENIALISTS AND HOW MANY WERE REJECTED RESOUNDINGLY NOT ONLY IN 2022 BUT DIDN'T FARE TOO WELL IN ARIZONA HERE IN 2024.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE STATEMENT IS TRUE, AND SO IF IT'S NOT DEAD, IT'S ON LIFE SUPPORT AND NEAR THE END.

TED: ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN INVESTIGATION FOR FOLKS POKING AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED OR TRIED TO FIND OUT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED IN 2020?

>> PEOPLE CAN ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT.

THEY'VE ALL BEEN ANSWERED AND I STAND ON THE RECORD OF THE FOLKS WHO RAN THE ELECTIONS IN 2020 INCLUDING MY FORMER ADMINISTRATION AT COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE.

NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN FOUND OR SHOWN TO SUPPORT ANY OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TO FIND.

SO BRING IT ON.

>> YOU MENTIONED HICCUPS HERE AND THERE, I SEEM TO RECALL APACHE COUNTY HAVING MORE THAN A FEW HICCUPS.

WHAT HAPPENED UP THERE.

>> A CONFLUENCE OF COUPLE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT CREATED PROBLEMS FOR SOME OF THE WAY THAT VOTERS WERE VERIFIED AT THE POLLING PLACES, A SIMILAR-ISH PROBLEM HAPPENED AT YUMA COUNTY AS WELL.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF MINOR TWEAKS IN PIMA COUNTY THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT POP UP BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATED NATURE OF OUR SYSTEMS.

THE SOPHISTICATION OF THE PROCESSES, AND THESE THINGS JUST HAPPEN, IT'S A HUMAN ENDEAVOR.

WE'VE KNOWN FOREVER THAT ELECTIONS ARE IMPERFECT.

WE'VE NEVER SAID THEY WERE, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE TO BE EXPECTED.

THANKFULLY THE COUNTY OFFICIALS WORKED AS HARD AS THEY COULD AND, IN FACT, FOLKS PETITIONED AND THE COUNTY OPENED UP THE POLLS PLACES FOR A COUPLE EXTRA HOURS TO LET A LOT OF THE VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

ALL IN ALL, WE DID HAVE ISSUES AND AS WE TYPICALLY DO AND I'VE DONE FOR A LONG TIME, WE IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, ATTACK THE ISSUE AND GET PAST THE ISSUE.

TED: SO YOU DID IDENTIFY IT, YOU DID GET PASS IT, IS THERE REASON FOR RETRAINING THOSE FOLKS?

DID THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND DO THEY KNOW HOW TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE LOOKED CAREFULLY WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS HAPPENING.

A LOT OF THE ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED PRETTY QUICKLY.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT ON ELECTION DAY YOU'VE ONLY GOT THIS MUCH TIME TO WORK THROUGH AN ISSUE, AND PARTICULARLY IN A PLACE LIKE APACHE COUNTY, WHICH IT'S 208 MILES FROM TIP TO TOP, AND IT'S KIND OF A ROUGH LOGISTICAL GEM WHEN YOU NEED TO GET TO THE COUNTY SEAT AND WORKING TO GET SUPPLIES UP.

WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE BETTER PREPARED IN THE FUTURE, THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND CONTINUE TO GET PAST THEM.

TED: IS THAT THE THING THAT ADDITIONAL STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING WOULD HELP?

YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT.

IS THAT STILL AN ISSUE FOR YOU?

>> NO QUESTION THAT IT'S A DIFFICULT TASK TO COMPLETE WHEN YOU HAVE FEDERAL CANDIDATES ON FEDERAL BALLOTS UNDER FEDERAL REGULATIONS WITH ZERO SUSTAINED FEDERAL FUNDING.

MOREOVER, YOU LOOK TO COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, MANY OF WHICH ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AND MIGHTILY, AND IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, THEY HAVE TO RUN PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE ELECTION WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THAT MONEY COVERS ABOUT HALF OF THE ACTIVITY THAT THEY'VE GOT TO DO, AND YET THEY ARE FORCED BY LAW TO DO THIS.

YOU'VE GOT SIGNIFICANT UNFUNDED MANDATES AND A LOT OF THE FOLKS NEED THAT HELP.

I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNTIES, TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THEM THE FUNDING THEY NEED.

TED: AS FAR AS THE TWO-CARD BALLOT, THAT'S A MONSTER BALLOT, THAT'S LIKE A RUSSIAN NOVEL WHAT WE WENT THROUGH HERE, DID THAT POSE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS ANYWHERE, OR JUST DELAYS?

>> HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT.

TAKE MARICOPA COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE.

MARICOPA COUNTY PROCESSED MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY PIECES OF PAPER THAN THEY'VE EVER PROCESSED IN THE PAST AND DID IT IN A LITTLE LESS TIME THAN THEY TYPICALLY DID.

THEY DID AN AMAZING JOBS, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE TAIL IS WAGGING THE DOG AND THE POLITICAL SPHERE AND THE MEDIA SPHERE IS PANICKING BECAUSE ARIZONA IS TAKING SO LONG TO POST RESULTS.

I'M HAPPY TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS, GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED BUT SHOULD NOT COME AT THE COST OF ACCESS FOR VOTERS, AND THE TWO PROPOSALS THAT I KNOW OF DO CONSTRICT ACCESS VOTERS HAVE.

WE HAVE TO TALK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND KEEP THE VOTERS FROM SUFFERING BECAUSE A COUPLE OF PUNDITS WANT FASTER RESULTS.

>> TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE PROPOSALS AND THE ONE GETTING THE HIGHEST PROFILE AND MAY HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING THROUGH.

CUTTING OFF THE EARLY DROP-OFFS, CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE ON THE DAY OF UNLESS YOU WANT TO STAND IN LINE, THE FRIDAY BEFORE DOES, THAT MAKE SENSE TO GET THOSE THINGS IN THE FRIDAY BEFORE AS OPPOSED TO ELECTION DAY, WHICH IS -- YOU'VE TOLD US MANY TIMES, ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS IT TAKES SO LONG TO COUNT THESE THINGS.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS IT TAKES SO LONG.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT AN ACTUAL PROBLEM OR MADE-UP PROBLEM.

IF WE'RE DETERMINED IT'S A MADE-UP PROBLEM, THEN IT'S A MADE-UP PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHERE I FALL.

LOOK, THE RESULTS AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE.

ALL OF THE AUDITS, HAND COUNT AUDITS SHOW OUR RESULTS ARE ACCURATE.

ALL THE RECOUNTS HAVE SHOWN RESULTS ARE ACCURATE.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT THEM TO TAKE LESS TIME.

THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, I HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO CONSTRICT THE ACCESS VOTERS HAVE.

THERE'S NO REASON WHY VOTERS CAN'T SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY AND DROP OFF THEIR ENVELOPE.

PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM VOTERS.

WE OUGHT TO DO THIS, IF THE LEGISLATURE WANTS QUICKER RESULTS, THEY OUGHT TO FUND QUICKER RESULTS.

PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS, GIVE THE COUNTIES THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO EXPAND CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND/OR GET THE KINDS OF EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE PROCESSES QUICKER.

THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT AND EVERYBODY WINS IN THAT SCENARIO.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT'S WORTH PAYING FOR.

TED: AND THEY WOULD RESPOND BY SAYING THAT'S FINE AND DANDY, MAKE IT FRIDAY, IT'S AN EARLY BALLOT, GET IT IN EARLY.

>> WE USED TO CALL THE WEEKEND PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY EMERGENCY VOTING BECAUSE WE HAD PAPER ROSTERS THAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED, BACK WHEN IT WAS DONE ON PENCIL AND PAPER.

WE STILL CALL IT EMERGENCY VOTING BUT YOU CAN VOTE THROUGH THE WHOLE PERIOD.

THE CALLBACKS TO WHAT WE CALL IT THIS, THEN DON'T CALL IT THAT ANYMORE.

TED: YEAH, OKAY.

THEY ALSO CALL IT LIKE LET'S BE MORE LIKE FLORIDA.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE FLORIDA.

DON'T FLORIDA MY ARIZONA.

TED: THAT'S FINE, THEY SAY FLORIDA GETS IT RIGHT, GET THE RESULTS IN QUICKER, IT'S ACCURATE, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

>> FLORIDA VOTERS HAVE LESS ACCESS AND LESS CHOICES THAN ARIZONA VOTERS DO.

I DON'T THINK VOTER SHOULD HAVE LESS ACCESS AND LESS CHOICES.

DON'T FLORIDA MY ARIZONA.

TED: INSTEAD OF CALIFORNIA.

>> PEOPLE SAY WE'RE A DRY FLORIDA, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

TED: THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

MORE FUNDING, WE TALKED ABOUT MORE FUNDING AND IF YOU WANT TO GET THESE THINGS, FLORIDA, ARIZONA, THEY'LL DO THE FUNDING OF FLORIDA.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> LOVE TO SEE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THINGS WE'VE PUT IN OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL.

ONE OF THEM A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IS ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT WE LOST FEDERAL FUNDING WHERE, VICTIMS OF STALKING AND VIOLENCE HAVE A CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESS THAT WE ADMINISTER, LIKE A SECRET MAILBOX, WE TAKE CARE OF THE INCOMING MAIL, GET IT TO THE FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THE STALKERS OR PEOPLE WHO POSE DANGER DON'T FIND THOSE FOLKS.

YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S NOT FULLY FUNDED.

I'D LOVE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND THAT.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER TECHNICAL CHANGES THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE HAPPEN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH PRIMARY DATE?

LEAVE IT IN AUGUST AND KEEP THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFORM ACT?

THOUGH IT WON'T APPLY IN 26, IT'S GOING TO COME UP IN 28.

MAYBE MOVE THE PRIMARY TO MARCH, WHICH IS A GREAT IDEA.

THERE IS TECHNICAL FIXES THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN INCLUDING THE FACT, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF FOLKS COULD SIGN PETITIONS ONLINE FOR INITIATIVES.

THAT MAY TAKE CONSTITUTIONAL WIGGLING BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE RUN INTO COMPRESSED TIME LINES AND VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO OUR JOBS, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU GOT THESE HUGE BITS OF WORK THAT YOU HAVE TO DO WITHOUT MORE TIME AND FUNDING.

TED: MAKING IT EASIER FOR CITIZEN INITIATIVES.

I THINK I HAVE A FEELING HOW THAT MIGHT GO AT LEGISLATURE?

>> LOOK, A STRONG TRADITION OF CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.

AND THE FACT THAT A POLITICIAN CAN GET ON THE BALLOT WITH AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE ON A PETITION BUT INITIATIVE FOR CITIZENS CAN NOT, I THINK THAT'S DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION ISSUE.

I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT CHALLENGED BY SOMEONE.

TED: BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, YOU ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE YOUR CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR HERE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON"?

>> I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO PREANNOUNCE, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT IN JANUARY MY RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

THAT'S HAPPENING PROBABLY THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

I GUESS I DID IT NOW.

YOU GOT THE SCOOP ON IT.

TED: YOU ARE GOING RUN FOR -- WHAT'S ALL THE TALK ABOUT GOVERNOR?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> LOOK, AND LIKE I'VE TOLD OTHER PEOPLE.

FOLKS COME UP TO ME AND SAY WE'VE GOT COMPLAINTS OVER HERE, YOU OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

IF THOSE, FOR WHATEVER REASONS CONVERSATIONS GET REPORTED, I'M NOT GOING TO LIE AND SAY THE CONVERSATION DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HEY, YOU OUGHT TO BE THE GOVERNOR, THAT'S A NICE COMPLIMENT.

BUT WE'VE GOT A GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE WHO LOVES HIS JOB AND IS GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

I'M HAPPY WHERE I'M AT AND HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER GREAT ELECTIONS FOR ARIZONANS.

TED: YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER IT DOING IT HERE IF THAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, TED.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ADRIAN FONTES, ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TED.

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TED: CYBERSECURITY EXPERTS ARE WARNING THAT AS MORE COMPANIES CONTINUE TO TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF A.I., WE COULD SEE A MARKED INCREASE IN THEFT AND OTHER CRIMES BY THE SAME EMPLOYEES.

FOR MORE ON THIS WE WELCOME NADYA BLISS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S GLOBAL SECURITY SECTOR.

LET'S START WITH AN EASY QUESTION, WHAT IS A.I.?

>> PEOPLE INTERNATIONALLY DEBATING AND RANGING FROM COMPUTER SCIENTISTS AND PHILOSOPHERS WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR AN ENTIRE DEBATE, SO I WILL SAY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS BASICALLY USING MACHINES TO DO TASKS THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE REQUIRED A HUMAN.

TED: OKAY, FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND OR BETTER UNDERSTAND A.I.

AND USES HOW MUCH MORE OF AN ADVANTAGE ARE THEY AT RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY IS NOT SO MUCH THE A.I.

ITSELF, BUT THE RAPID ADOPTION AND PENETRATION OF A.I.

INTO SOCIETY.

SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE SPECIAL THING THAT ANYONE NOW CAN ACCESS A.I., BUT I ALWAYS SAY UNDERSTANDING THE VULNERABILITIES IN CASES WHERE IT DOESN'T WORK, THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL.

TED: THAT COMES WITH TRAINING, AND SO EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED HERE, BUT INTERNAL DATA BREACHES SEEM LIKE THEY'RE JUST GLITTERING TARGETS FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

ARE WE SEEING THAT OUT THERE?

>> THE WAY I WOULD QUALIFY IT IS, LOOK, I HAVE BEEN A COMPUTER SCIENTIST, BY TRAINING, I'VE BEEN IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY R&D FOR 20+ YEARS.

A LOT OF THE VULNERABILITIES AND ATTACKS IN MALWARE, THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARITY WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST 20+ YEARS, HOWEVER, WITH A.I.

EVERYTHING IS ACCELERATING.

DO I THINK THE INSIDER THREAT IS WORSE WITH A.I.?

WELL, IT'S ACCELERATED IN A WAY THAT NOW THERE'S A LOWER BAR TO WRITE MALWARE OR WRITE AN ATTACK.

THAT'S HOW I PUT IT.

TED: IF YOU'RE AN INDUSTRY AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THIS, HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF?

>> YEAH, I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT TRAINING FOLKS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY -- MAYBE THIS IS A WHITE HAT OR GOOD HACKER TYPE OF BELIEF.

I THINK MORE EDUCATION IS ALWAYS EMPOWERING AND QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE COULD PICK UP TUTORIALS ON YouTube HOW TO USE A.I., BUT I THINK INDUSTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS -- SO HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, ANY KIND OF INDUSTRY, BIOTECHNOLOGY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO WATCH OUT FOR THINGS THAT MAY SEEM UNUSUAL AND JUST BE A LITTLE BIT EXTRA SKEPTICAL BECAUSE ANY KIND OF ATTACK WHETHER SOCIAL ENGINEERING OR ACTUALLY A SYSTEM BREACH IS EASIER IF YOU HAVE THAT ACCESS TO THE A.I.

TOOLS.

>> WHAT ABOUT UNINTENTIONAL DATA BREACHES BY A.I.

ITSELF?

>> I AM NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

TED: YOU DON'T THINK SO?

>> YEAH, MAYBE NOT QUITE YET.

IF YOU WANT TO GET A LITTLE SPOOKY, THE PART THEY WOULD SAY IS A LITTLE BIT WORRISOME IS THE FACT THAT ESSENTIALLY ANYTHING THAT GOES INTO AN A.I.

SYSTEM IS NOW KIND OF IN THERE.

NOW MY BIG RECOMMENDATION WHETHER IT'S TO A BIG COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION, IT'S GOOD TO THINK ABOUT LOWERING THAT DIGITAL FOOTPRINT BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT IS OUT THERE IS GOING TO BE GOBBLED UP BY THE A.I.

SYSTEM AND COULD BE ACCESSED BY A PARTICULARLY SOPHISTICATED PERSON.

TED: INFORMATION SHARING, DOES THAT PLAY INTO ALL THIS?

>> SURE, ANYTHING YOU ARE POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

I WOULD SAY COMING BACK TO THE INSIDER THREAT ASPECT OF THINGS, JUST EVERYBODY SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SKEPTICAL ABOUT CLICKING ON LINKS, SOMEONE SAYS, HEY, I REALLY WANT THAT DATA, AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT, MAYBE ASK A COUPLE EXTRA QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE YOUR COLLEAGUE TED, IT MAY BE A CHATBOT.

TED: INTERESTING.

IS THIS A BIG DEAL IN THE CYBERSECURITY WORLD?

>> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

TED: THE THREAT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S WITH ADVANCE NOVEL TECHNOLOGY, I WOULD SAY THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO IT.

ON ONE SIDE YOU HAVE THIS LOWERING THE BAR TO ATTACKS.

SO ANYONE CAN CREATE MALICIOUS CODE OR LAUNCH THOSE ATTACKS WITH VERY, VERY, VERY LITTLE KIND OF KNOWLEDGE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WRITE THE CODE THEMSELVES.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM CAN WRITE THE CODE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN USE A.I.

TO SHORE UP DEFENSES.

WE HAVE A TEAM AT ASU THAT DEVELOPED NOVEL TECHNIQUES TO DO AUTOPATCHING OF THE CODE.

BEING ABLE TO DETECT VULNERABILITIES AUTOMATICALLY OPEN-SOURCE CODE.

I WILL SAY THERE IS ONE THING ABOUT THE MOMENT THAT FEELS DIFFERENT THAN 20+ YEARS AGO WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA TOOK OFF, PEOPLE ARE A TINY BIT MORE SKEPTICAL, AND I LOVE THAT.

SO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS AS A COMPUTER SECURITY PERSON MAKES ME REALLY, REALLY HAPPY.

TED: REALLY QUICKLY, YEA OR NAY, ARE THE GOOD GUYS OUTPACING THE BAD GUYS?

CAN YOU EVEN TELL?

>> YOU KNOW, SECURITY IS OFTEN, YOU ARE PATCHING, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK THE GOOD GUYS FOR A REALLY GOOD PLACE.

THAT'S WHAT I'LL SAY.

TED: A GREAT OPTIMISTIC WAY TO END THE CONVERSATION.

NADYA BLISS, GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.