MALWARE, ransomware, zero-day exploits; there's no rest when it comes to protection from cyberattacks. And in an increasingly connected world, with expanding cyber and cyber-physical spaces and access to tools like artificial intelligence (AI), attacks are likely going to become more diverse and sophisticated.

That's why a group of the nation's best computer scientists and engineers, including researchers from Purdue University, have come together to form the National Science Foundation-sponsored Institute for Agent-based Cyber Threat Intelligence and Operation (Action). This $20-million, five-year project is one of seven newly funded National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes. Action brings the continuous learning — and now, reasoning — of AI to the constant situational awareness and actions that are fundamental to cybersecurity.