GPHW2024: The role of AI and communities in national defense: Protecting lives, public health, and healthcare services against crippling attacks in the era of artificial intelligence

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11th April 2024 | 10:00-11:00 (GMT-7)

Event Description: It is estimated that most major cities have enough energy and water reserves to meet the necessities of their inhabitants for up to a week following a major power outage, either due to a malicious act or a natural disaster. Although there is a surprising dearth of studies with reliable data, the outlook is similar for cities to withstand a complete failure of their digital infrastructure, and even worse to deal with a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is dramatically increasing the risk, efficacy, and magnitude of the catastrophic effects of these threats, all of which can devastate population health and cripple the healthcare system, resulting in hastened societal collapse. This reality demands a radical reimagining of national defense, one that places communities at the forefront of a resilient and adaptive strategy.

The panelists will focus on novel ways to harness the power of communities to secure population health and to ensure the uninterrupted operation and provision of essential healthcare services in the face of an AI-induced complete failure of the digital infrastructure, or a prolonged power outage, or a CBRN attack. They will also illustrate the critical role of analog technologies, social networks, community engagement, and computational management in the creation of a national defense system to protect lives, ensure the continuity of healthcare services, and protect the population and public health in an increasingly uncertain global security environment.

Moderator: Alex Jadad, Member, Public Health Leadership Coalition, WFPHA

Panelists: Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, Howard Hu and Thomas Valente, Professors, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck Medical School, University of Southern California (USC)

Tamen Jadad Garcia, Partner, Vivenxia Healthcare Consulting, Los Angeles, USA 

Event Type: Panel discussion & round table

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Keck School of Medicine of USC

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom Link

Registration: N/A