Few topics dominate conversations about the future of work right now more than AI. From boardrooms to SOCs, organizations are trying to understand how AI will reshape how people do their jobs: what gets automated, what gets augmented, and what new skills security teams will need to succeed.
Cybersecurity is no exception. The stakes may be even higher for defenders navigating a world where both attackers and security teams are experimenting with AI-driven tools.
This week’s FollowFriday highlights five voices helping make sense of this shift.
The list was inspired in part by some of the challenges I have experienced integrating AI into my workflows (covered in my editor’s column, “Lessons of a ChatGPT Power User.”
Daniel Miessler
Daniel Miessler has become one of the most thoughtful voices examining how AI will fundamentally reshape cybersecurity work. Through his Unsupervised Learning platform and regular LinkedIn commentary, he pushes beyond hype to ask what happens when AI agents begin performing tasks that once required entire security teams. His perspective stands out because it blends hands-on security engineering experience with a broader view of how technological shifts change entire industries.
In one recent post, Miessler explores the rise of agent-driven security operations, arguing that the real transformation will come from orchestration — AI systems that understand context and execute security tasks autonomously. His writing consistently examines how AI assistants could soon sit alongside human analysts in SOC environments, forcing organizations to rethink staffing models, workflows, and security strategy.
Example of his work:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7435132523682095105/
Where to follow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmiessler/
X: https://twitter.com/danielmiessler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielmiessler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielmiessler
Website: https://danielmiessler.com
Alan Shimel
Alan Shimel has been chronicling major shifts in enterprise technology for decades, and recently he has been focused on what AI means for the way security and engineering teams actually work. Through Digital CxO and the broader TechStrong ecosystem, Shimel regularly explores how generative AI will reshape DevSecOps, developer workflows, and enterprise security operations.
A strong example is his article “The Robots Are Coming,” which explores how AI-driven automation is already reshaping how development and security teams collaborate. Shimel frequently emphasizes that AI isn’t just another tool — it represents a structural shift that will fundamentally change how software is built, secured, and delivered.
Example of his work:
https://digitalcxo.com/article/the-robots-are-coming/
Where to follow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanshimel/
X: https://x.com/ashimmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashimmy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashimmy
TechStrong Group: https://techstronggroup.com
Gadi Evron
Gadi Evron has long been one of cybersecurity’s more provocative thinkers (in the best way), and his recent commentary increasingly focuses on the strategic implications of AI for defenders. His posts often explore how machine-speed vulnerability discovery, AI-driven reconnaissance, and automated exploitation could reshape the cyber battlefield.
He regularly challenges organizations to rethink traditional security models in a world where both attackers and defenders operate with AI assistance. His LinkedIn commentary frequently explores how the tempo of cyber conflict may accelerate dramatically as AI systems begin generating vulnerabilities and exploits faster than human teams can respond.
Example of his work:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7369621619922628611/
Where to follow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gadievron/
X: https://twitter.com/gadievron
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gadievron/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gadievron
Company site: https://www.knostic.ai/
Allie Mellen
Allie Mellen offers one of the clearest analyst perspectives on how AI will transform security operations. As a Forrester analyst covering SecOps and automation, she frequently examines how AI-driven tools will reshape the day-to-day work of analysts and incident responders.
Mellen often pushes back on the idea of a fully autonomous SOC, arguing instead that AI will augment analysts by automating repetitive tasks like alert triage, enrichment, and investigation. Her research helps security leaders separate real-world operational gains from marketing hype surrounding AI-powered security platforms.
Example of her work:
https://www.forrester.com/analyst-bio/Allie%20Mellen/BIO16084
Where to follow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hackerxbella/
X: https://x.com/hackerxbella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackerxbella/
Company site: https://www.forrester.com
Wendy Nather
Wendy Nather has long been one of cybersecurity’s most respected strategic thinkers (also known as the Betty White of cybersecurity), and her commentary increasingly explores how automation and AI will reshape the human side of security work. With decades of experience spanning security operations, research, and strategy, Nather frequently focuses on how technology shifts change the way defenders organize and operate.
Her writing often explores how defenders must rethink workflows, decision-making, and trust models in a world where automated systems assist — or sometimes replace — human analysis. Nather’s perspective stands out because she consistently connects emerging technology trends with the people, processes, and incentives that define real-world security programs. Here presentations and writings go deep into the human condition and her own personal journey. She also has the distinction of being the only presenter who has ever left me misty-eyed (at BSidesSF last year, when she shared a picture of her late husband's workspace and explained why she couldn't bring herself to dismantle it because it was part of him and who he was).
Example of her work:
https://www.computer.org/digital-library/magazines/sp/cfp-cyber-hard-problems
Where to follow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendynather/
X: https://twitter.com/wendynather
Company site: https://1password.com/
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