AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Abstract
Cyber hygiene has come to represent the basic tools, processes, and knowledge necessary for operations of a secure and reliable system. Until now, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has been developing at a fast pace with security a secondary consideration. The absence of a strong emphasis on security has led to the emergence of poor standard practices within the AI community, creating AI systems with inherent vulnerabilities and security issues. This work aims to identify and analyze these problematic practices specifically related to the hygiene of models and data in AI products. Furthermore, it also identifies remedial controls, inspired by traditional cybersecurity principles, to help the AI community strengthen its security posture and improve its overall cyber hygiene.
Cite This SEI Report
Churilla, M., Shabana, M., Metcalf, R., & Lau, S. (2025, March 13). AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders. Retrieved August 17, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-hygiene-starts-with-models-and-data-loaders/.
@techreport{churilla_2025,
author={Churilla, Matt and Shabana, Mahmoud and Metcalf, Renae and Lau, Shing-hon},
title={AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders},
month={Mar},
year={2025},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-hygiene-starts-with-models-and-data-loaders/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-17}
}
Churilla, Matt, Mahmoud Shabana, Renae Metcalf, and Shing-hon Lau. "AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, March 13, 2025. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-hygiene-starts-with-models-and-data-loaders/.
M. Churilla, M. Shabana, R. Metcalf, and S. Lau, "AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 13-Mar-2025 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-hygiene-starts-with-models-and-data-loaders/. [Accessed: 17-Aug-2026].
Churilla, Matt, Mahmoud Shabana, Renae Metcalf, and Shing-hon Lau. "AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 13 Mar. 2025. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-hygiene-starts-with-models-and-data-loaders/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.
Churilla, Matt; Shabana, Mahmoud; Metcalf, Renae; & Lau, Shing-hon. AI Hygiene Starts with Models and Data Loaders. Software Engineering Institute. 2025. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-hygiene-starts-with-models-and-data-loaders/