Modern software is built on layers and layers of code. So how do we know we can trust it?
In this episode of Alexa’s Input (AI), Alexa Griffith sits down with Justin Cappos, professor of computer science at NYU and a leading expert in software supply chain security, to unpack what trust really means in today’s digital infrastructure.
From package managers and dependency chains to large-scale outages and AI systems built on inherited code, Justin explains why many security failures aren’t random accidents, they’re predictable consequences of weak process, misaligned incentives, and insecure design.
They discuss:
Why security only becomes visible when something breaks
The difference between unavoidable failure and negligence
How modern software supply chains amplify small mistakes
The role of leadership and culture in preventing breaches
Why verification systems like TUF and in-toto matter more than ever
As AI accelerates development and increases system complexity, the need for verifiable trust only grows. This episode is a practical look at the invisible infrastructure that keeps modern software, and increasingly, modern AI, from collapsing under its own complexity.
Podcast Links
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@alexa_griffith
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More: https://linktr.ee/alexagriffith
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Find out more about the guest at:
Website: https://engineering.nyu.edu/faculty/justin-cappos
NYU page: https://ssl.engineering.nyu.edu/personalpages/jcappos/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Cappos
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Justin Cappos and His Work
01:17 The Importance of Security in Software Systems
03:50 Understanding Security Breaches: Mistakes vs. System Design Problems
06:34 Cultural Factors in Security Failures
09:25 Justin's Journey in Software Security
12:03 The Role of Academia in Enterprise Security
14:10 Evaluating Enterprise Security Systems
16:58 Foundational Projects in Software Security
19:21 AI Security Concerns and Future Directions
24:59 The Need for MCP 2.0
28:57 Security Challenges with LLMs
32:33 Designing Secure AI Systems
37:14 Ethical Dilemmas in AI Decision-Making
40:17 The Role of AI in Open Source
43:44 Trust and Mindset in AI Security
