Found fast, fixed slow: The gap the AI clearinghouse must close - CyberScoop

According to a report from CyberScoop, the AI cybersecurity clearinghouse established under Trump's executive order aims to coordinate vulnerability scanning and patching across government systems. The clearinghouse is intended to address the growing gap between the speed at which AI vulnerabilities are discovered and the time it takes to fix them. However, the report notes that the body risks becoming a committee that stalls, failing to deliver timely remediation.

The executive order directs the clearinghouse to centralize information on vulnerabilities found in AI systems deployed by federal agencies. Officials quoted in the report expressed concern that without binding patching deadlines, the clearinghouse could become a paperwork exercise. The report emphasizes that the gap between 'found fast' and 'fixed slow' is the primary challenge the clearinghouse must address.

CyberScoop notes that the clearinghouse is still in its early stages, with organizational details and enforcement mechanisms yet to be finalized. The report contextualizes this as part of broader government efforts to secure AI systems, following previous executive actions on AI safety. Critics argue that the clearinghouse, as currently structured, lacks the authority to compel agencies to patch vulnerabilities quickly.