From Overload to Insight: Are We Getting Smarter, or Just Letting AI Think for Us? | A RSA Conference 2025 Conversation with Steve Wilson | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

In a conversation that sets the tone for this year’s RSA Conference, Steve Wilson, shares a candid look at how AI is intersecting with cybersecurity in real and measurable ways. Wilson, who also leads the OWASP Top 10 for Large Language Models project and recently authored a book published by O’Reilly on the topic, brings a multi-layered perspective to a discussion that blends strategy, technology, and organizational behavior.

Wilson’s session title at RSA Conference—“Are the Machines Learning, or Are We?”—asks a timely question. Security teams are inundated with data, but without meaningful visibility—defined not just as seeing, but understanding and acting on what you see—confidence in defense capabilities may be misplaced. Wilson references a study conducted with IDC that highlights this very disconnect: organizations feel secure, yet admit they can’t see enough of their environment to justify that confidence.

This episode tackles one of the core paradoxes of AI in cybersecurity: it offers the promise of enhanced detection, speed, and insight, but only if applied thoughtfully. Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) aren’t magical fixes, and they struggle with large datasets. But when layered atop refined systems like user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), they can help junior analysts punch above their weight—or even automate early-stage investigations.

Wilson doesn’t stop at the tools. He zooms out to the business implications, where visibility, talent shortages, and tech complexity converge. He challenges security leaders to rethink what visibility truly means and to recognize the mounting noise problem. The industry is chasing 40% more CVEs year over year—an unsustainable growth curve that demands better signal-to-noise filtering.

At its heart, the episode raises important strategic questions: Are businesses merely offloading thinking to machines? Or are they learning how to apply these technologies to think more clearly, act more decisively, and structure teams differently?

Whether you’re building a SOC strategy, rethinking tooling, or just navigating the AI hype cycle, this conversation with Steve Wilson offers grounded insights with real implications for today—and tomorrow.

🎧 Tune in to hear how organizations can strike the balance between smart machines and smarter humans.

Guest: Steve Wilson, Founder and Co-Chair at OWASP GenAI Security Project | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilsonsd/

Hosts:

Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine:  https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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This Episode’s Sponsors

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

Akamai: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwc

BlackCloak: https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb

SandboxAQ: https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2en

Archer: https://itspm.ag/rsaarchweb

Dropzone AI: https://itspm.ag/dropzoneai-641

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Resources

Learn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage

Steve's Session — The Machines Are Learning, But Are We?: https://path.rsaconference.com/flow/rsac/us25/FullAgenda/page/catalog/session/1727385607626001Dg4P

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