Wayne State's Rhongho Jang Wins $599,998 NSF Award to Build AI-Defending Internet Systems
Updated
Updated · Wayne State University · Jun 3
Wayne State's Rhongho Jang Wins $599,998 NSF Award to Build AI-Defending Internet Systems
1 articles · Updated · Wayne State University · Jun 3
Summary
$599,998 over five years will fund Rhongho Jang’s NSF CAREER project at Wayne State to develop network infrastructure that can analyze and stop cyber threats in real time.
Jang’s approach moves security processing from distant cloud data centers into core network systems, embedding AI and advanced hardware in routers so defenses act where traffic flows.
The research targets a fast-growing risk: attackers already use generative AI and large language models to probe vulnerabilities, run botnets and adapt attacks faster than traditional tools respond.
Wayne State said the project will also train students in AI, cybersecurity and advanced computing, while aiming to make real-time protection less dependent on the resources of large corporations.
Jang cast the work as a broader redesign of internet infrastructure for the AI era, with potential benefits including fewer outages, safer smart-home networks and more reliable connectivity.
With cybercrime costs hitting trillions, can we afford the massive energy and hardware price of putting AI in every router?
Could the AI 'immune system' defending our internet become the ultimate weapon if it's ever hijacked by hackers?
Is an AI arms race the only answer, or must we redesign the internet itself for inherent security against future threats?
NSF CAREER Award 2542128: Pioneering AI-Powered, GPU-Accelerated Internet Defense for a Secure Digital Future
Overview
Dr. Rhongho Jang at Wayne State University has received a prestigious NSF CAREER grant to develop an AI-driven 'immune system' for the internet. This project addresses the urgent need for faster and more secure online environments as cyber threats, especially those powered by generative AI, rapidly escalate. Traditional cybersecurity struggles to keep up with the growing complexity and data volume, often relying on manual and fragmented responses. By pioneering advanced AI technologies, Dr. Jang's research aims to transform internet defense, enabling real-time, automated protection that overcomes the limitations of current security operations.