Research Security

Research security refers to the policies and practices that protect academic and scientific research from theft, undue foreign influence, and misuse, including the risk that sensitive AI and other advanced research is transferred to competitors or state actors. For enterprises, it matters because universities and research labs are frequent partners, funders, and sources of talent, so their exposure can become the enterprise's exposure through shared data, joint projects, or hiring. Compliance teams increasingly face export control rules, funding disclosure requirements, and vetting obligations tied to this area.

1 item

Corporate PolicyUS2026-10-15

DOT's Undisclosed AI Vetting Tool Exposes a Shadow AI Inventory Problem

The U.S. Department of Transportation has built an AI tool to screen research grant recipients for financial ties to foreign adversaries. These include connections to Chinese Communist Party leadership and Russian oligarchs. Senior AI advisor Neil Chaudhry described the capability publicly, but the tool does not appear in the agency's published AI inventory. The gap raises concrete questions about high-impact AI disclosure obligations under federal governance requirements.

U.S. Department of Transportation federal AI governance AI inventory shadow AI research security foreign adversary vetting grant compliance