AI and the Future of Work: What It Means for Cybersecurity and Beyond

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer an emerging trend—it's a present-day disruptor. From automated threat detection to generative content creation, AI is transforming industries, workflows, and, yes, entire careers. While some sectors are seeing productivity gains, others are bracing for significant job displacement as AI replaces or reshapes roles that rely heavily on routine, repetitive, or pattern-based tasks.

In the cybersecurity industry and across the broader workforce, the question is no longer if AI will impact jobs, but which ones, how quickly, and what comes next.

For security, AI has become a powerful ally, especially in areas like:

•  Threat detection and triage
•  Automated incident response
•  Log analysis and anomaly identification
•  User behavior analytics

This has prompted concern among some security professionals, particularly those in entry-level roles or SOC analysts performing repetitive monitoring tasks.

Gartner estimates that by 2028, more than 50% of SOC Level 1 analyst responsibilities will be handled by AI. These include alert prioritization, correlation of events, and even basic ticket resolution.

That doesn't mean the human cybersecurity workforce is obsolete. Instead, roles are evolving upward:

• Analysts will shift toward strategic investigation, adversary simulation, and interpreting AI-generated signals.

• Demand for AI governance, model validation, and security for AI systems is increasing.

• Soft skills—like judgment, ethical reasoning, and cross-team communication—will become premium assets.

Bottom line: AI is changing the nature of cybersecurity work, but not eliminating it wholesale. The bigger risk is a skills gap, as security professionals must now understand both traditional threats and AI-driven technologies.

"AI isn't replacing cybersecurity talent. It's redefining it. Our future advantage lies in how well we integrate human judgment with machine speed," said Sanjay Sharma, CISO, Zafin. "The real risk isn't AI taking jobs—it's falling behind while others use it to move faster, smarter, and more secure."

George Wang, CMO, Peterson Technology Partners, will present on "The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity Roles, Retention, and Culture" at the SecureWorld Chicago conferences on May 21st. Attendees of his session will gain actionable insights into defining new roles, cultivating essential skills, and charting GenAI-centric career paths to align with organizational goals and stay ahead in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

"I believe that AI is transforming, rather than deskilling, today's cybersecurity workforce. Its impact on the cybersecurity workforce could significantly shift the current skills gap towards a more nuanced labor gap," said Craig Jones, Vice President of Security Operations at Ontinue. "Currently, the cybersecurity industry is faced with a skills gap due to a shortage of professionals with the expertise needed to handle the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. AI can ease some of this burden by handling certain tasks, however, it also requires employees who not only comprehend cybersecurity, but are also skilled in managing and interpreting AI outputs. To address this, continuous education and upskilling become vital."

Helen Oakley, Director of Secure Software Supply Chains and Secure Development at SAP, spoke on "Paving the Future of AI with Trust and Transparency" at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. She had this to say about AI and its impact on the cybersecurity workforce, specifically:

"AI isn't here to replace us. It's here to offload the repetitive, so we can focus on what matters most. But to thrive in this future, we need to build skills not just in using AI, but in understanding how it works, what it's made of, and how it makes decisions. As AI systems become more autonomous, cybersecurity roles will shift from writing rules to validating intent. We'll need professionals who can navigate agent behavior, data lineage, and model governance—not just code."

Industries at high risk of AI job disruption

According to studies from McKinsey, OpenAI, and the World Economic Forum, here are the industries and job types most susceptible to AI-driven disruption:

Administrative Support

• Timing: Immediate to 3 years

• AI already automates scheduling, document preparation, data entry, and travel booking.

• Roles like executive assistants, data clerks, and receptionists are most vulnerable.

Customer Service and Call Centers

• Timing: Now through 2027

• Generative AI and chatbots are handling a growing percentage of inbound queries.

• Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of customer interactions will be handled by AI.

Retail and Food Services

• Timing: 2–5 years

• Self-checkout systems, AI-driven inventory management, and smart kitchen automation are reducing frontline roles.

• Roles most impacted: cashiers, inventory clerks, fast food workers.

Media, Content, and Design

• Timing: Now to 3 years

• Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Adobe Firefly are enabling content generation with minimal human input.

• Copywriters, junior designers, video editors, and some marketing coordinators face displacement.

Finance and Insurance

• Timing: 3–7 years

• AI is automating underwriting, risk analysis, and fraud detection.

• Roles in claims processing, actuarial calculations, and even financial advising are under threat.

Jobs that AI is less likely to replace

Some jobs are safer—for now. Roles requiring creativity, emotional intelligence, hands-on physical presence, or advanced critical thinking remain in demand, such as:

•  Cybersecurity architects and strategists
•  Teachers and therapists
•  Electricians and mechanics
•  Medical professionals in patient care
•  Crisis negotiators and social workers

These professions rely on human context, trust, and complex decision-making—areas where AI still struggles.

Stephen Kowski, Field CTO at SlashNext Email Security+, had this to say:

"Leading organizations are creating detailed AI training programs and establishing clear policies about how AI tools will be used to augment rather than replace human capabilities. Smart organizations also involve employees in AI implementation decisions and provide hands-on experience with AI security tools to build confidence and demonstrate how these technologies make their jobs more efficient and meaningful."

Kowski continued, "Organizations should establish comprehensive AI training programs that teach employees how to effectively use AI tools for tasks like threat detection and analysis while maintaining human oversight of critical decisions. Creating cross-functional teams that combine AI expertise with domain knowledge helps employees understand how to leverage AI capabilities while maintaining their essential role in decision-making processes. Regular feedback sessions and clear metrics help demonstrate how AI tools improve productivity and job satisfaction rather than threaten job security."

Leaders should prepare now for how AI is impacting, and will impact, industries and job roles moving forward, including how to:

1. Reskill for the AI Era: Upskill existing staff to handle AI oversight, data literacy, and prompt engineering.

2. Redefine Entry-Level Roles: In cybersecurity and beyond, entry paths must evolve. New roles may include AI validation analyst or human-in-the-loop auditor.

3. Invest in Human-AI Collaboration: Don't just replace workers—reimagine workflows. Use AI to offload grunt work, not eliminate judgment.

4. Reinforce Soft Skills: Empathy, ethics, storytelling, and adaptability will differentiate human workers in an AI world.

"AI is now affecting knowledge workers and professionals by automating complex analytical tasks and decision-making processes, requiring these workers to develop new skills in AI oversight and strategic thinking," Kowski said. "Unlike previous automation waves, AI can enhance cognitive tasks and professional judgment, making it crucial for workers to learn to collaborate effectively with AI systems. High-paying roles will likely evolve to focus more on uniquely human capabilities like relationship-building, creative problem-solving, and ethical decision-making while using AI to handle data analysis and routine cognitive tasks."

"Modern upskilling programs should focus on AI literacy, teaching employees how to effectively use AI tools while maintaining critical thinking and decision-making abilities," Kowski continued. "Priority skills should include AI prompt engineering, data interpretation, and understanding AI limitations, particularly in security-critical situations where human oversight remains essential. Training should emphasize soft skills like adaptability and creative problem-solving, complementing rather than competing with AI capabilities."

AI is not the enemy—it's an accelerant. The challenge ahead isn't how to stop AI from taking jobs, but how to equip people for the new jobs AI is creating.

"AI's impact on cybersecurity will extend beyond security operations; there are many use cases for other domains, including AppSec and GRC that will reduce the burden on staff and increase productivity," said Arif Hameed, CISO at C&R Software. "Before implementing AI, a thorough risk assessment should be performed, and the appropriate controls and ongoing monitoring processes should be implemented to manage risks that have been identified."

For cybersecurity professionals, that means embracing new tools without surrendering critical thinking. For business leaders, it means planning a workforce strategy that pairs technological adoption with human development.

Because the future of work isn't human versus machine—it's human with machine.

Bill Bowman, Operating Partner | CISO, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe had this related wrap-up of the topic:

"AI may be fast, but it still can’t talk down a ransomware gang, fix a misconfigured firewall at 2 a.m., or convince a CFO to fund MFA… again," Bowman said. "Glad to see cybersecurity on the 'hard-to-replace' list. Until AI learns how to handle board politics, compliance frameworks, and human error with grace and grit, we’ll keep our jobs (and our caffeine addictions).