Artificial intelligence will not phase out cybersecurity jobs. That is the stance held by Amazon’s chief security officer, Steve Schmidt, who is disputing claims that the revolutionary technology is killing security jobs. Given the big gap in available talent and the number of open jobs in the sector, the executive insists there is more than enough cybersecurity work to go around.
Security Jobs Risk
Currently, the total workforce headcount in security is at an all-time high of 5.5 million but still needs to be increased to meet the industry demand. The number is expected to grow even further, given that company’s worldwide need close to 4 million additional cyber professionals to secure systems.
Amazon is not the only company that has rebuffed claims that AI will kill jobs in the cybersecurity sector. Schmidt says he has spoken to other chief security officers who have told him they don’t plan to cut staff because of AI. According to the executive, it is possible to get more people employed while still leveraging the benefits of the revolutionary technology.
Tatar has already reiterated that AI won’t cause significant layoffs in the industry, given that the technology is not yet ready to take over human functions. According to the firm, AI will only impact the workforce for entry-level jobs. Nevertheless, if it begins to take over the job responsibilities of early career security analysts, it could make it difficult for college graduates to find work.
Nevertheless, layoffs have plagued the security industry despite the strong demand and job openings. Five US security teams led by SecureWorks, Splunka, and Okta have laid off thousands over the past 12 months, citing cost reduction efforts. None of the companies have yet to point out the impact of artificial intelligence in the sector.
Tech giant Meta Platforms has lain off close to 21,000 employees since 2022 as it sought to become more efficient, targeted workers focused on website security. Microsoft has also laid off hundreds of security employees over the past year, citing economic downturn.
AI Growing Influence in Cybersecurity
Even though there is uncertainty as to whether artificial intelligence has played a role in the layoffs, it’s no secret that it is poised to take over the industry in the future. One key reason is that human labor is expensive, and salaries for security engineers are not cheap. The fact that AI is relatively inexpensive, never gets sick, takes time off, and can run 24/7 makes it a preferred option instead of human capital.
However, there is also the potential for AI technology to work hand in hand with humans, lightening the load in security matters. As hackers continue to develop sophisticated technology for attacks, it is a natural progression for companies to adopt advanced measures, including the use of AI, to stay one step ahead.
Small and medium-sized businesses stand to benefit the most from artificial intelligence when it comes to protecting their systems. These businesses often cannot afford large teams to create and maintain sophisticated defenses, so they are more likely to adopt cost-effective alternatives.
Furthermore, there are numerous companies offering tools that assist clients in code writing and AI product creation for various functions. For example, Amazon’s Bedrock service helps companies build generative AI based on existing large language models.
