Artificial intelligence (AI) dominates today’s headlines. Generative AI can already write code, and machine learning systems can scan vast datasets for anomalies. Some have made bold predictions, even claiming AI will replace cybersecurity as we know it.
The reality, as we see it, is more measured. AI is reshaping how teams secure and defend their environments, but it isn’t eliminating the need for human expertise. In fact, the real story is how AI and people work better together. Here’s where the hype ends, and the reality begins.
Will AI Replace Cybersecurity or Just Change It?
AI won’t make cybersecurity professionals obsolete, but it is already changing workflows and will continue to do so. Instead of replacing human expertise, AI is shifting the skills that teams need. That means less time spent on repetitive tasks and more focus on interpreting results and making business-driven decisions.
Can AI Really Replace Humans in Cybersecurity?
The short answer: not in the next decade.
AI and machine learning are excellent at sifting through and processing data faster than any human could. Tools like Arista NDR analyze network activity at a scale that was simply impossible before AI. But while AI can refine what analysts see, humans still need to interpret what’s truly actionable for the business.
“AI doesn’t know what’s important to your team. You still need someone to decide what to do next.” – Aaron Faby, VP of Information Security, TWE Solutions
The real shift is that analysts will spend less time buried in raw alerts and more time applying judgment, validating AI’s findings, and shaping the right response.
Cybersecurity vs. AI: Competitors or Complements?
Think of AI as a force multiplier, not a replacement.
AI isn’t replacing experts, but it is changing what teams can achieve, as well as the skillsets required for cybersecurity roles.
In SentinelOne’s Mortal vs. Machine demos, non-specialists using Purple AI have completed tasks in seconds that would normally take seasoned SOC analysts hours. At the organizational level, IDC’s Business Value of Purple AI Report (sponsored by SentinelOne) found that companies using Purple AI identified threats 63 percent faster and resolved them 55 percent quicker, compared to their prior processes (IDC Report).
Together, these results show how AI not only lowers the barrier to entry for less technical users, but also boosts the efficiency of experienced teams by speeding up investigation and remediation.
That shift doesn’t eliminate security jobs, but it does change them. In the past, many roles demanded deep technical expertise and years of study. With AI making tools easier to use, the emphasis is now shifting toward people who understand the business, can validate AI’s output, and make informed decisions about how security actions align with larger goals.
What AI Can Do in Cybersecurity Today
AI is already delivering value in practical ways:
- Data analysis: Parsing logs and incidents at speed.
- Incident response acceleration: Highlighting indicators of compromise and reducing time-to-detection.
- Documentation: Drafting security policies or playbooks that previously took hours of manual research.
- Decision support: Tools like Microsoft Security Copilot can block compromised accounts automatically, while flagging actions for human review.
The most immediate advantage is speed. Yet ironically, just as with AI’s builders, greater speed often brings a greater chance of mistakes. That is why human oversight remains critical, and why we are still a long way from AI replacing security professionals anytime soon.
Where AI Falls Short
For all its promise, AI comes with significant limitations.
- False positives and hallucinations: Machine learning systems can still misclassify events, and generative AI can produce incorrect information that looks convincing.
- Data dependency: AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on. If flawed or insecure code is in the dataset, the AI will repeat those flaws. Studies have shown that nearly half of AI-generated code contained detectable security vulnerabilities (Veracode).
- Lack of judgment: AI doesn’t understand business context. As John Marcato, CTO of TWE Solutions noted, today’s systems are still in the “if this, then that” stage, powerful at automating rules but not capable of real judgment. Determining whether an alert matters to your specific operations or compliance priorities still requires human insight.
The real value of AI comes when it works alongside human expertise. It can accelerate tasks, but it cannot replace the judgment that only people provide. That is why the next few years will focus less on replacement and more on integration, as organizations learn how AI and people can complement one another to strengthen security operations.
Looking Ahead: The Next 2–5 Years
Over the next few years, expect AI in cybersecurity to bring steady progress instead of another breakthrough on the scale of large language models. As Marcato observed, ChatGPT-3 marked a turning point, but what lies ahead is likely to be incremental improvements, not another overnight transformation.
We will increasingly use AI to augment human analysts by automating rule-based tasks and by integrating with enterprise data to provide richer, context-aware insights. This will help CISOs and security leaders make smarter business decisions. The future is not “AI vs. humans.” It is AI and humans working together to scale protection, reduce manual effort, and free skilled professionals to focus on strategy instead of busywork.
Over time, organizations will rely on AI to perform more first-pass actions, such as filtering or categorizing alerts and initiating automated containment steps, like blocking a compromised account. Humans will continue to validate those actions, tune the systems, and decide when to escalate.
Final Word
AI won’t replace cybersecurity professionals anytime soon. What it will do is reshape the field by lowering the barrier to entry for advanced tools and making data more accessible. The real shift will be in skills. Instead of relying on large numbers of technical staff buried in alerts and configurations, organizations will need more people who can validate AI’s output, interpret it in business context, and make informed decisions. Human judgment, oversight, and strategic thinking will remain essential.
TWE Solutions provides enterprise-grade IT and cybersecurity services with a co-managed approach, helping IT teams secure, modernize, and optimize their infrastructure.
Need help cutting through the AI hype or strengthening your IT operations? Contact us today.
FAQs on AI and Cybersecurity
Still have questions? Here are some of the most common ones we hear from IT and security leaders:
Can AI replace cybersecurity?
AI is powerful, but it cannot fully replace cybersecurity professionals. Current tools can automate detection, triage, and response, but they still require human oversight to validate findings, apply business context, and make strategic decisions.
Will AI replace cybersecurity?
Not anytime soon. While AI accelerates analysis and lowers the barrier to entry for less technical users, security leaders agree it will take years before AI can approach the judgment and adaptability of human experts.
Will cybersecurity be replaced by AI?
No. Cybersecurity will evolve with AI, but it won’t be replaced. Instead, AI will reshape how teams work: fewer people doing repetitive monitoring, more people focusing on tuning systems, validating results, and making higher-level risk decisions.
Cybersecurity vs AI: are they competitors or complements?
They’re complements. AI amplifies human capability by reducing noise and handling routine tasks quickly, freeing up experts to focus on strategy. In practice, the strongest security outcomes come from humans and AI working together.