NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has announced plans to release an update to its widely used cybersecurity framework, aiming to address the emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence technologies. The forthcoming addition, a control overlay for Special Publication 800-53, is expected within the next 6 to 12 months.
According to a report by GovCIO Media & Research, the new guidance will specifically target the unique cybersecurity challenges posed by AI systems, signalling a shift in federal focus toward regulating increasingly autonomous and complex technologies.
The last major revision to NIST SP 800-53, published in 2020, included new provisions around biometrics and digital identity. Since then, AI has rapidly become an integral part of the technology landscape, transforming industries, raising new security concerns, and outpacing current regulatory frameworks.
NIST officials acknowledge the growing urgency to adapt standards to technological realities. In addition to the upcoming control overlay, the agency has also begun work on a broader Cybersecurity Framework profile tailored for AI systems. This initiative, still in its early stages, will kick off with a workshop focused on shaping the Cyber AI Profile, a longer-term effort aimed at embedding AI-specific risk management into national cybersecurity strategy.
As AI continues to evolve, NIST’s initiatives mark a critical step in developing structured, government-endorsed protections for systems increasingly reliant on intelligent algorithms.
