Why AI Security?
The pace of AI progress is accelerating, and with it the stakes. As models become more capable, the cost of compromise rises - from misuse by bad actors to systemic failures at scale. Securing these systems is not a nice-to-have; it’s foundational to deploying AI safely and responsibly. Heron exists to help meet that need by directing elite security talent toward the most consequential problems at the frontier.
A landmark RAND report in 2024, led by Sella Nevo and Dan Lahav, revealed critical gaps in how AI companies secure their most valuable assets - their model weights - which are the key to accessing the accelerating capabilities of advanced AI. These findings catalyzed the AI security ecosystem to ensure that advanced emerging technology doesn't enable catastrophic risks to society.
AI's Rapid Advance and Potential Risks
The field of AI is developing rapidly, and the fierce competition between the frontier AI companies is driving the technology to break new limits at an unprecedented pace. As these systems become more powerful, the consequences of losing control of them grow with them, whether they fall into the wrong hands, or find their own way out.
A Balancing Act: Security vs. Speed
AI companies face a crucial balancing act: protecting critical assets while driving the tech forward at full speed. This holds an inner tension, since every security measure can potentially slow development. Finding the right balance requires deep expertise and careful consideration. There is a second tension inside the first. Establishing whether a model is dangerous means running it under adversarial conditions, with real capability and real access, so the work of testing frontier systems is itself a surface that has to be secured.
Heron: Field-Building for AI Security
AI security is emerging as one of tech's most critical and fastest-growing sectors. Frontier AI needs more research, policy and new technologies to ensure safe deployment. The stakes couldn't be higher - securing these powerful systems is crucial for humanity's future. Heron connects experienced cybersecurity professionals with these opportunities - from our base in Tel Aviv and, through our international fellowship, well beyond it - creating pathways for security talent to shape the future of the technology while advancing their own careers at the frontier.
Next-Gen Security for Next-Gen AI
AI security introduces complex new threat models and attack vectors that transform the security landscape. From protecting model weights in distributed training environments to securing edge deployments against jailbreaking attempts, the technical challenges are unprecedented. Security professionals work on novel problems like supply chain hardening for AI chips, defending against model extraction attacks, keeping capable agents inside the boundaries set for them, and securing the internal deployments where the newest models are tested long before the public sees them. The field combines advanced persistent threat defense and sophisticated red team frameworks with cutting-edge AI architecture, creating a dynamic space where cybersecurity expertise meets frontier technology.