Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning , Black Hat , Events

AI: The Most, and the Least, Hyped Technology

Artificial intelligence, much like when the internet became public, is simultaneously the most overhyped and underhyped technology in history, said Sam Curry, vice president and CISO at Zscaler. Its application in cyber defense is still evolving.

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AI's integration into cybersecurity defenses demands strategic shifts, Curry said. Beyond implementing tools, it requires developing a deeper understanding of how AI-driven attacks and defenses evolve, just as advancements in drone technology have reshaped modern battlefields.

"It's like tanks in World War I. The first time they were introduced in the battlefield, they didn't have as big an effect as they should have. Later, a doctrine emerged that changed the war to a large extent," he said. "Look at Ukraine and see how drones have changed in two years, and at some point, doctrinally, will change how AI is employed, and that will, in turn, change how AI develops."

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Black Hat 2024, Curry also discussed:

• What AI-powered cybersecurity looks like;
• How Zscaler is approaching gen AI in its own solutions;
• The potential for AI to drive new security doctrines and strategic defense approaches.

Prior to Zscaler, Curry was the chief security officer at Cybereason and chief technology and security officer at Arbor Networks. Before that, he spent more than seven years at RSA, the security division of EMC, in a variety of senior management positions, including chief strategy officer, chief technologist and senior vice president of product management and product marketing. He is a member of the CyberEdBoard.