AI is changing cybersecurity—but probably not in the way you think.
Most of us have used tools like ChatGPT or Claude to ask questions, explain code, or help solve a problem. That's useful, but it's only the beginning.
What happens when an AI can use tools? Read logs? Write and run code? Maintain knowledge over time? Work with other specialized AI agents? Investigate a problem and propose actions for a human to approve?
And, maybe more importantly for cybersecurity:
What happens when that AI is wrong?
Cyberwildcats is beginning a new focus on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
We'll start this Saturday with a basic introduction to AI, cybersecurity, and AI agents: what these systems are becoming, how cyber people can use them, and why verification and human judgment still matter. Think of this as the on-ramp—enough shared vocabulary and concepts to start experimenting intelligently.
Then, on Saturday, October 24, we'll come back for a more hands-on session focused on using AI as a cyber teammate. We'll experiment with AI to investigate real technical problems rather than simply asking it for answers.
Along the way, we'll tackle questions that cybersecurity professionals increasingly need to understand:
- How can AI make a cyber operator faster and more capable?
- How do AI agents use tools, data, and persistent knowledge?
- What should an AI be allowed to do on its own?
- How do you know whether an AI's answer is actually correct?
- What happens when multiple AI agents work together?
- How do we build systems where humans remain in control?
- And how can we use these capabilities to become better cyber competitors and defenders?
For the October 24 session: bring a laptop.
We'll experiment, investigate, challenge the AI, and see what happens when we treat it as a junior member of a cyber team.
This also begins some of our preparation for NCAE Cyber Games 2027. AI won't replace knowing Linux, networking, Windows, scripting, incident response, or security fundamentals. But learning how to combine those skills with AI—and knowing when not to trust the AI—is quickly becoming another important skill for cyber operators.
Our working philosophy:
Use AI aggressively. Verify it relentlessly. Keep the human in command.
This Saturday: Intro to AI, Cyber, and Agents Saturday, October 24: AI + Cyber: Building With AI, Not Just Chatting With It
More details and the hands-on agenda for October 24 are coming soon.
