Beside Myself at BSides OK (mpdc.dev)

At the recent BSidesOK 2026 conference in Glenpool, Oklahoma, the AI Security Summit on Day 1 made waves by dedicating an entire day to AI governance, featuring pivotal talks from notable figures like Microsoft and various security experts. This event marked a significant shift in the focus of cybersecurity conferences, emphasizing that AI governance is no longer a mere afterthought but a crucial area deserving its own platform. Topics ranged from Copilot security to practical demonstrations of breaking LLMs and assessing AI-related risks within enterprises. The event demonstrated the power of grassroots networking and engagement in the tech community. By volunteering instead of purchasing a ticket, one attendee maximized his access to experts and resources, ultimately establishing valuable connections in AI security, including two influential speakers from academic and enterprise backgrounds. This experience underscored the importance of participation over passive attendance, with the cost of networking yielding far greater dividends than any monetary investment could provide. The advocacy for presence not only fosters professional growth but highlights emerging topics in AI, such as Cache-Augmented and Knowledge-Augmented Generation methodologies, showcasing the evolving landscape where collaboration and innovation intersect.