Ep. 67: Lenovo VP on Endpoint Security, AIPCs and NPU

Just like everything else, AI is profoundly transforming the security landscape. It is increasing the attack surface, sophistication, and impact. while also providing more potent tools to increase security.  In enterprise PCs, security and device management apps (as part of the Corp Image) significantly reduce performance. AIPCs promise to run apps more efficiently on NPUs. In the episode, I talk to Nima Baiati, VP of Commercial Software and Security at Lenovo, about the evolving PC security landscape, the impact of AI, and the challenges of migrating security apps to the NPU.  We also delve into how to incentivize ISVs to prioritize migration, how Lenovo can serve as a model for the industry, and the expected timelines for the NPU migration. Index: 00:00 - Intro 02:10 - Guest intro (Nima Baiati) 03:17 - Changing landscape of endpoint security, especially with the advent of AI 02:23 - How is Lenovo addressing the changing landscape, both from traditional and AI-enhanced threat vectors? - ThinkShield - a comprehensive platform ensuring security from the supply chain, hardware, and software 11:01 - AI: the double-edged sword- tremendous capability to both create & fight security risk 12:53 - AIPCs and the promise of NPU for running security and device management functions more efficiently 14:00 - NPU migration challenges - Three forks ISVs should run through: 1) Re-architecting and optimizing ML models; 2)Instruction set variability between NPU vendors; 3) Testing and performance optimization. How Lenovo helps ISVs in migration 16:36 - Awareness about the benefits NPU among the stakeholders (ISVs, CIO/CSO/IT Managers, OEMs) 19:20 - Business model challenge of ISV in migrating security applications to NPU - Lots of work but no new revenue.  22:26 - Do enterprises (CIO, IT Managers) have to do anything to accomplish migration to NPU? How Lenovo works closely with ISVs and enterprise customers to bring mutually beneficial solutions 25:31 - How to incentivize ISVs to prioritize migration, e.g., include it in their KPI? 28:03 - How Lenovo's size and scale uniquely position it to be the leader and drive this for the industry, and pave the road 29:01 - Should the NPU migration be driven as an industry initiative? Is there a need for standardization, etc.? 31:08 - How is Agentic AI affecting security? - Huge role for automation, rapid response, but agents completely taking over security is a fantasy. Human intervention 35:01 - Latest trends in the security landscape - AI privacy, AI Governance, automation detection and remediation, management and orchestration of devices and environments, etc. 36:47 - What is the timeline for the industry to substantially migrate security apps to NPU? 39:50 - Closing