Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are pressing state and local governments to shore up their cybersecurity operations to protect against hacks.

Their concern is that frontier AI models in the hands of bad actors could be used to unleash sophisticated attacks that exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities.

“The world is dangerous now, and it’s about to get way more dangerous as these frontier models become more widely available,” Alan Fuller, Utah’s chief information officer, told Pluribus News. 

A recent survey of state chief information security officers highlighted the peril: Only 22% said they felt confident in their ability to protect public data, down from 48% in 2022.

Human hackers used to have to hunt for gaps in cybersecurity walls. AI now makes it possible to deploy an army of virtual agents to do the work, exponentially raising the chances of surprise intrusions known as zero day attacks. 

The danger was highlighted in September when a suspected Chinese state-sponsored group used Anthropic’s Claude Code tool to target tech companies, banks, chemical manufacturers and governments.

Anthropic called it “the first documented case of a large-scale cyberattack executed without substantial human intervention.” It issued a report that warned “the barriers to performing sophisticated cyberattacks have dropped substantially.”

“Threat actors can now use agentic AI systems to do the work of entire teams of experienced hackers with the right set up, analyzing target systems, producing exploit code, and scanning vast datasets of stolen information more efficiently than any human operator,” the report said. 

The issue was amplified in April when Anthropic said its new AI model, Claude Mythos, was too dangerous to release publicly because of the implications for cybersecurity. Instead, the company shared Mythos with more than three dozen tech companies to give them a “head start” on finding and fixing security gaps, the New York Times reported. 

Project Glasswing is Anthropic’s initiative to “secure the world’s most critical software” after Mythos found “thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities,” including across major operating systems and web browsers. The project has so far found more than 10,000 serious security gaps and was expanded last week to include infrastructure operators in more than 15 countries.

The warnings about Claude Mythos prompted President Donald Trump last week to issue an executive order on AI and security. It includes a requirement that the Homeland Security secretary “facilitate access to cybersecurity tools and services” for state and local governments and operators of critical infrastructure such as utilities and hospitals.

OpenAI announced last month it was offering a “limited preview” of GPT-5.5-Cyber to entities responsible for the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.

The immediate priority has been to get frontier tools into the hands of enterprise software developers and critical infrastructure operators to help them find gaps in their security before bad actors do. 

State and local governments will benefit from those efforts. But the public sector has its own systems potentially vulnerable to hackers, including nation-state actors hostile to the United States and criminal syndicates.

Fuller said potential intruders scan Utah’s computer networks more than a billion times a day. 

The state deploys an AI-powered tool to scan its network traffic and server logs daily, looking for suspicious traffic and malicious code. But Fuller worries it isn’t enough, especially if experts are correct that states have six to nine months before hackers gain access to frontier models. 

“What’s happening is an arm’s race,” said Fuller, who serves as vice president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’s executive committee. “Can we build up our defenses fast enough to stay ahead of the attacks that we’re pretty sure are coming with frontier AI models.”

An Anthropic spokesperson told Pluribus News the company has worked with state, local, tribal and territorial governments, including holding a series of cybersecurity briefings in May that drew more than 100 top public sector tech officials.

The company plans to announce this week a new cyber defense program tailored specifically to the public sector, using generally available Claude models to identify and fix vulnerabilities.

The recent survey conducted by NASCIO in partnership with Deloitte painted a concerning picture: State cybersecurity budgets aren’t keeping up; confidence in the ability to ward off attacks is waning; and states’ reliance on third-party vendors heightens vulnerabilities. 

“State chief information security officers are protecting public data systems at a time when cyber threats are growing in sophistication, as foreign adversaries, sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals are increasingly using new artificial intelligence-based tools to probe for weaknesses,” the report said. 

AI-enabled attacks are a top-three concern for state information security officers, along with phishing attempts and security breaches involving third-party contractors. 

State cybersecurity officers are also worried about the risk to local governments and public higher education institutions, which sometimes have access to state systems. The survey found 26% confidence that state information assets are protected from cyberthreats originating within local government and public higher education, down from 59% in 2022.

Despite the bleak outlook, chief information security officers in 23 states reported in the survey that they are already using generative AI to shore up their cybersecurity operations, with 21 more states planning to do so in the next year. 

Additionally, approximately one-fifth states are adopting a “whole-of-state” approach to cybersecurity, which involves the state providing umbrella support to entities outside of state government. 

But funding remains a limiting factor, as states face budget shortfalls that make new investments in security a tougher sell in state legislatures. Cybersecurity budgets are largely flat or falling amid state spending shortfalls and federal funding expiring, the survey found.

Last month, state leaders urged Congress to reauthorize the $1 billion State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.

“We are under-resourced, and that’s part of what is causing us fear,” Fuller said.

Another potential line of defense are state laws requiring frontier AI developers to mitigate the risk of catastrophic harms, including widescale cybersecurity attacks. California and New York already have first-in-the-nation laws on the books, and a recently passed bill in Illinois is headed to the governor.

Read more: Blue states push toward de facto national AI safety standard

The post States brace for AI-driven cyber attacks first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times.

Key Points:

• Arizona officials condemn assassination of Charlie Kirk

• Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, was shot at a Utah event

• Authorities have released images of a person of interest; no arrest has been made

Arizona’s political community condemned the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who died after he was shot while speaking at a Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10. 

Kirk, a prominent Arizona conservative activist and the leader of Phoenix-based Turning Point USA, was speaking to a large crowd of people at a debate when he was shot in the neck. He later died from his injuries at a Utah hospital. A suspect was not immediately captured. 

According to the Associated Press, investigators released two images of the suspected shooter and are appealing to the public for tips. As of Sept. 10, the unidentified suspect is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot from a high-powered, bolt-action rifle. The weapon they believe was used in the attack has been recovered, and video recordings of the person they believe to be responsible are being reviewed.

Arizona government officials on both sides of the aisle responded after the shooting, offering condolences to Kirk’s family and condemning political violence. 

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I am saddened for Charlie’s family, friends, and Arizonans as they mourn his loss, and I am saddened for our country as our politics have descended into horrific violence,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement provided through her campaign. “This tragedy is not about who Charlie Kirk supported politically. It is about the devastating loss of a father, a neighbor, and an Arizonan who called this state home, and whose life was cut short by senseless violence.”

Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Queen Creek, reacted similarly in a post on X.

“I am absolutely shocked, sickened and outraged to hear about the passing of Charlie Kirk,” Petersen wrote. “Today was a dark day where evil was on full display. He was singular, indispensable and irreplaceable. America will not be the same without him.”

Kirk was a large figure in Arizona politics and TPUSA has been a driving force for the state’s Republican candidates in major elections over the past few years. Most recently, the group has thrown its weight behind U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs’ campaign in the Republican gubernatorial primary. 

“Charlie. My friend. I’m heartbroken. Rest now,” Biggs wrote in a post on X.

Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived her own assassination attempt in Tucson in 2011, and her husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, both condemned the attack on social media.

“Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence,” Giffords wrote on X. 

The outpouring of support continues from Arizona officials. 

Sen. Wendy Roger: “Charlie Kirk was a transformational force in America. This will be the beginning… as he looks down from Heaven on us & his family, who we must continue to love & support. I knew Charlie; he was a fighter. He died doing what he loved. He was always respectful, kind & intelligent. We will honor him & continue the fight as he would want.”

Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda: “Prayers for Erika and her children as we grieve the loss of Charlie Kirk.” 

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego: “This is beyond terrible. Charlie Kirk was a husband, father, and son. Violence is never the answer. Sydney and I are keeping the Kirk family in our prayers.”

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes: “Our condolences are with Mr. Kirk’s family, his colleagues, his supporters, and all those affected by this senseless act. Let’s not retreat into silence or hatred, but rise above violence by recommitting ourselves to the democratic principles of civil engagement and mutual respect.”

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani: “Laura and I join millions of Americans in mourning the horrific loss of Charlie Kirk. Charlie leaves behind a legacy of love of God, love of family, and love of country. He lit a fire that brought so many young Americans along with him, and his voice for conservative values echoed far beyond Arizona.”i

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton: “The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying. I’m praying hard for him, and keeping his family in my thoughts. Political violence has absolutely no place in our country.”

U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari: “Horrific gun tragedies one after another. Charlie Kirk lost his life. Not even an hour later, a school in Colorado came under fire. Communities shattered. Lives changed forever. This is not normal and this is not acceptable. We cannot keep living like this.”

Former Gov. Doug Ducey: “America was blessed that Charlie Kirk walked this earth. He inspired young people to love our country in a way I’ve never seen in my lifetime. His passion for ideas, for debate and for Free Speech was infectious. We are all in shock and devastated. We pray for his wife Erika, his children and his family. Today’s assassination was an act of terrorism. Political violence isn’t the answer — and Charlie showed us that. May God rest his soul.”

Sen. Jake Hoffman: “The world will never truly understand the magnitude of the loss it suffered today. Charlie Kirk was one of the most fearless, patriotic, loving, God-fearing, brilliant men to ever walk this earth. Few compare. Charlie we love you dearly. You’re home with our Creator now.” 

Attorney General Kris Mayes: “Political violence is never the answer. I strongly condemn the horrific act of violence against Charlie Kirk. We may not all agree in this country but our ability to freely share and discuss our political beliefs is what makes us American.”

Kirk’s casket is to be flown back to Arizona from Utah aboard Air Force Two, according to The Associated Press. 

The post Arizona leaders condemn death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times.

OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, died Wednesday after being shot at a college event, Trump said.

The co-founder and CEO of the youth organization Turning Point USA, the 31-year-old Kirk is the latest victim in a spasm of political violence across the United States.

Authorities are still searching for suspect in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, according to the mayor of Orem, Utah.

Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The AP was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus, where Kirk was scheduled to speak on Wednesday.

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. The event had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit to Utah colleges was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

President Donald Trump and a host of Republican elected officials offered prayers for Kirk on social media.

“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

The shooting comes amid a spike in political violence in the United States across all parts of the ideological spectrum. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year.

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who was at the event, said in an interview on Fox News Channel that he heard one shot and saw Kirk go back.

“It seemed like it was a close shot,” Chaffetz said, who seemed shaken as he spoke.

He said there was a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security but not enough.

“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”

Gabby Giffords, a former U.S. representative for Arizona who suffered a serious brain injury when she was shot in 2011, posted on X about the attack on Kirk.

“I’m horrified to hear that Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah,” she wrote Wednesday. “Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence.”

Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.

But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.

Despite early misgivings, Turning Point enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, during the general election campaign.

Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.

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