CyberPeace, USI conduct workshop on CyberFirst Responders and AI safety

CyberPeace, in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India, on Dec 6 conducted a strategic workshop on CyberFirst Responders and AI safety, bringing together about 40 international students from universities including MIT, Harvard, and Columbia to address emerging global cyber threats.

The workshop focused on the growing need for trained first responders capable of detecting, responding to, and mitigating cyber incidents in real time as digital risks increasingly cross borders and jurisdictions.

Sessions covered common cyber risks faced by young users, such as poor digital hygiene, financial scams, online fraud, social media manipulation, identity theft, and cyber-enabled misinformation.

Experts highlighted that the current threat landscape now includes AI-powered phishing, deepfake-enabled fraud, autonomous malware, attacks on critical infrastructure, and large-scale data breaches, which can disrupt institutions, damage economies, and undermine public trust.

The program featured keynote addresses, live demonstrations, hands-on security labs, and a team-based incident response simulation.

Participants were introduced to the modern AI threat environment and trained in practical defense techniques to help secure AI systems and build resilient digital frameworks.

Organizers described CyberFirst Responders as frontline professionals operating across technology, policy, law enforcement, and international cooperation, noting that cyberattacks often originate from distributed networks spanning multiple countries.

The initiative placed particular emphasis on international students due to their high digital exposure and mobility.

CyberPeace announced that the initiative will be extended through a cybersecurity hackathon and a one-day Cyber First Responder training program at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology campus in Bhubaneswar, aimed at further strengthening capacity building in the sector.

Speakers also highlighted the risks associated with the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, citing AI-driven malware, deepfakes, automated social engineering, and algorithmic manipulation as emerging challenges.

They stressed that training in AI-related cyber risks is essential to move response efforts from reactive to anticipatory.

With digital systems becoming central to governance, business, and daily life, the organizers said investing in globally trained CyberFirst Responders with strong AI literacy is critical to ensuring long-term digital security and resilience.