If you’re considering a career in cybersecurity, you may be wondering how artificial intelligence (AI) could impact your future. AI has already made a noticeable impact across the tech industry, with increased automation contributing to workforce shifts and fewer entry-level opportunities. Headlines about layoffs and rapid technological change have raised valid concerns — especially for those just starting out. So, what does that mean for cybersecurity? Will AI replace these roles as well? The short answer is no. Cybersecurity is a specialized branch of information technology focused on risk management, threat defense and data compliance. AI can provide some assistance by improving efficiencies or completing repetitive tasks, but it can’t fully replicate the strategic decision-making and knowledge of human cybersecurity experts. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity jobs are rising. Information security analysts have a faster-than-average projected job outlook of 29% through 2034. How is AI used in cybersecurity? While AI can’t fully replace the cybersecurity workforce, it will remain a reality in the field. AI has been part of cybersecurity for more than 40 years, primarily used for basic threat detection and automatic system updates. As AI continues to evolve, threat detection is becoming automated through generative security processes that protect user data by identifying system risks and vulnerabilities faster than ever before. That said, the human factor is arguably more important because large language models (LLMs) are limited and can be exposed to sensitive data, “hallucinate” false information or become vulnerable to new, unpredictable attacks. This presents an opportunity for cybersecurity experts to use and train AI tools to detect threats more quickly and efficiently. Rather than replacing workers, AI is transforming efficiencies and changing the scope of day-to-day operations. In some instances, AI is even creating new jobs in the field. The