ITSPmagazine

ITSPmagazine Weekly Update | From AI Agents to Tape Mixes, to Guitars and Black Hat Buzzwords and much more with Marco & Sean's Random & Unscripted Podcast ⸻ In this weekly unscripted update, Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin catch up on their latest stories, from AI agents replacing SOC analysts to mixtape nostalgia and vintage guitars made from NYC history. They also tease big things coming at Black Hat USA and reflect on why collaboration is core to ITSPmagazine. ⸻ In this week’s Random and Unscripted episode, Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin return with another lively behind-the-scenes update from the ITSPmagazine world. As always, the conversation flows unpredictably—from music and nostalgia to cybersecurity, AI, and everything in between. Marco kicks off the episode by confessing he saw ASIS live—twice—and is now on a mission for the perfect mod haircut. Sean follows with an unexpected review of an avant-garde opera at Lincoln Center, which explores humanity’s attempt to extend life through technology. That sets the stage for deeper reflection on AI, with both co-founders digging into the role of AI agents in cybersecurity operations. Sean recaps his recent contributor-led newsletters on threat intelligence and AI-powered SOC roles. Marco, meanwhile, teases the next chapter in his “Robbie the Robot” newsletter series, which will explore the merger of humans and machines. The episode also spotlights a series of published interviews: a brand story with Greg and John from White Knight Labs, Marco’s conversation with Ken Munro wrapping up Infosecurity Europe 2025, and an episode with Abadesi from the Women in Cybersecurity track—discussing how diverse teams build better tech. Sean also drops new Music Evolves episodes, including a conversation with Summer McCoy of the Mixtape Museum and a new story on Carmine Guitars, where vintage NYC wood is repurposed into one-of-a-kind instruments. That sparks a philosophical reflection from Marco on the contrast between analog warmth and digital impermanence. As the episode winds down, Marco and Sean turn their attention to Black Hat USA 2025. With sponsorships nearly sold out, they encourage companies to claim one of the last remaining spots. They also preview an upcoming live webinar where they’ll debate the event’s inevitable buzzwords with industry peers. As always, the tone is informal, curious, and community-driven. If you want the inside scoop on what’s shaping the stories and strategies at ITSPmagazine—this is the episode to hear. ⸻ Keywords: cybersecurity, AI agents, threat intelligence, SOC analyst, mixtape museum, custom guitars, Black Hat USA 2025, ITSPmagazine, analog vs digital, diversity in tech, robotic automation, newsletter strategy, editorial collaboration, pen testing, brand storytelling, tech culture, cybersecurity events, operational technology, digital transformation, music and techHosts links:📌 Marco Ciappelli: https://www.marcociappelli.com📌 Sean Martin: https://www.seanmartin.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com Title: The Human Side of Technology with Abadesi Osunsade — From Diversity to AI and Back AgainGuest: Abadesi OsunsadeFounder @ Hustle Crew - We train ambitious & inclusive teams in tech & beyondWebSite: https://www.abadesi.comOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abadesi/Host: Marco CiappelliCo-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Consultant | Journalist | Writer | Podcasts: Technology, Cybersecurity, Society, and Storytelling.WebSite: https://marcociappelli.comOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-ciappelli/_____________________________This Episode’s SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________⸻ Podcast Summary ⸻ What happens when someone with a multicultural worldview, startup grit, and a relentless focus on inclusion sits down to talk about tech, humanity, and the future? You get a conversation like this one with Abadesi Osunsade. We touched on everything from equitable design and storytelling to generative AI and ethics. This episode isn’t about answers — it’s about questions that matter. And it reminded me why I started this show in the first place. ⸻ Article ⸻ Some conversations remind you why you hit “record” in the first place. This one with Abadesi Osunsade — founder of Hustle Crew, podcast host of Techish, and longtime tech leader — was exactly that kind of moment. We were supposed to connect in person at Infosecurity Europe in London, but the chaos of the event kept us from it. I’m glad it worked out this way instead, because what came out of our remote chat was raw, layered, and deeply human. Abadesi and I explored a lot in just over 30 minutes: her journey through big tech and startups, the origins of Hustle Crew, and how inclusion and equity aren’t just HR buzzwords — they’re the foundation of better design. Better products. Better culture. We talked about the usual “why diversity matters” angle — but went beyond it. She shared viral real-world examples of flawed design (like facial recognition or hand dryers that don’t register dark skin) and challenged the myth that inclusive design is more expensive. Spoiler: it’s more expensive not to do it right the first time. Then we jumped into AI — not just how it’s being built, but who is building it. And what it means when those creators don’t reflect the world they’re supposedly designing for. We talked about generative AI, ethics, simulation, capitalism, utopia, dystopia — you know, the usual light stuff. What stood out most, though, was her reminder that this work — inclusion, education, change — isn’t about shame or guilt. It’s about possibility. Not everyone sees the world the same way, so you meet them where they are, with stories, with data, with empathy. And maybe, just maybe, you shift their perspective. This podcast was never meant to be just about tech. It’s about how tech shapes society — and how society, in turn, must shape tech. Abadesi brought that full circle. Take a listen. Think with us. Then go build something better. ⸻ Keywords ⸻ Society and Technology, AI ethics, generative AI, inclusive design, tech innovation, product development, digital transformation, tech, technology, Diversity & Inclusion, equity in tech, inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, diverse teams, representation matters, belonging at workEnjoy. Reflect. Share with your fellow humans.And if you haven’t already, subscribe to Musing On Society & Technology on LinkedIn — new transmissions are always incoming.https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/musing-on-society-technology-7079849705156870144You’re listening to this through the Redefining Society & Technology podcast, so while you’re here, make sure to follow the show — and join us as we continue exploring life in this Hybrid Analog Digital Society.End of transmission.____________________________Listen to more Redefining Society & Technology stories and subscribe to the podcast:👉 https://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.comWatch the webcast version on-demand on YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTUoWMGGQHlGVZA575VtGr9Are you interested Promotional Brand Stories for your Company and Sponsoring an ITSPmagazine Channel?👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/advertise-on-itspmagazine-podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

⬥GUEST⬥Tobias Halmans, OT Incident Responder | GIAC Certified Incident Handler | Automation Security Consultant at admeritia GmbH | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-halmans/⬥HOST⬥Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥Business continuity planning is a familiar exercise for most IT and security leaders—but when you move into operational technology (OT), the rules change. In this episode of Redefining CyberSecurity, Sean Martin talks with Tobias Halmans, an incident responder at admeritia, who helps organizations prepare for and respond to incidents in OT environments. Tobias shares why disaster recovery planning in OT requires more than simply adapting IT frameworks. It demands a change in approach, mindset, and communication.OT engineers don’t think in terms of “ransomware readiness.” They think in terms of safety, uptime, manual fallback options, and how long a plant can stay operational without a SCADA system. As Tobias explains, while IT teams worry about backup integrity and rapid rebooting, OT teams are focused on whether shutting down a system—even safely—is even an option. And when the recovery plan depends on third-party vendors, the assumptions made on both sides can derail the response before it begins.Tobias walks us through the nuances of defining success in OT recovery. Unlike the IT world’s metrics like mean time to recover (MTTR), OT environments often hinge on production impacts and safety thresholds. Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) still exist—but they must be anchored in real-world plant operations, often shaped by vendor limitations, legacy constraints, and tightly regulated safety requirements.Perhaps most importantly, Tobias stresses that business continuity planning for OT can’t just be a cybersecurity add-on. It must be part of broader risk and operational conversations, ideally happening when systems are being designed or upgraded. But in reality, many organizations are only starting these conversations now—often driven more by compliance mandates than proactive risk strategy.Whether you’re a CISO trying to bridge the gap with your OT counterparts or an engineer wondering why cyber teams keep showing up with playbooks that don’t fit, this conversation offers grounded, real-world insight into what preparedness really means for critical operations.⬥SPONSORS⬥LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974⬥RESOURCES⬥Inspiring Article: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-fluchs_notfallvorsorge-in-der-ot-traut-euch-activity-7308744270453092352-Q8X1⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast: 🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcastRedefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/Interested in sponsoring this show with a podcast ad placement? Learn more:👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplc Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Title: "Catching Up With Ken Munro After Infosecurity Europe 2025 — Hacking the Planet, One Car, One Plane, and One System at a Time"A Post–Infosecurity Europe 2025 Conversation with Ken MunroGuestsKen Munro Security writer & speakerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-munro-17899b1/HostsSean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazineWebsite: https://www.seanmartin.comMarco Ciappelli, Co-Founder, CMO, and Creative Director at ITSPmagazineWebsite: https://www.marcociappelli.com___________Episode SponsorsThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974___________After a whirlwind week at Infosecurity Europe 2025, I had the chance to reconnect with Ken Munro from Pen Test Partners — a longtime friend, hacker, and educator who brings cybersecurity to life in the most tangible ways. From car hacking escape rooms to flight simulators in pubs, we talked about why touching tech matters, how myth-busting makes us safer, and how learning through play might just be the key to securing our increasingly complex world. Tune in, and maybe bring a cocktail.⸻There’s something special about catching up with someone who’s not just an expert in cybersecurity, but also someone who reminds you why this industry can — and should — be fun. Ken Munro and I go back to the early days of DEFCON’s Aviation Village, and this post-Infosecurity Europe 2025 chat brought all that hacker spirit right back to the surface.Ken and his crew from Pen Test Partners set up shop next to the main Infosecurity Europe venue in a traditional London pub — but this wasn’t your average afterparty. They transformed it into a hands-on hacking village, complete with a car demo, flight simulator, ICS cocktail CTF, and of course… a bar. The goal? Show that cybersecurity isn’t just theory — it’s something you can touch. Something that moves. Something that can break — and be fixed — before it breaks us.We talked about the infamous “Otto the Autopilot” from Airplane, the Renault Clio-turned-Mario Kart console, and why knowing how TCAS (collision avoidance) works on an Airbus matters just as much as knowing your Wi-Fi password. We also dug into the real-world cybersecurity concerns of industrial systems, electronic flight bags, and why European regulation might be outpacing the U.S. in some areas — for better or worse.One of the biggest takeaways? It’s time to stop fearing the hacker mindset and start embracing it. Curiosity isn’t a threat — it’s a superpower. And when channeled correctly, it leads to safer skies, smarter cars, and fewer surprises in the water we drink or the power we use.There’s a lot to reflect on from our conversation, but above all: education, community, and creativity are still the most powerful tools we have in security — and Ken is out there proving that, one demo and one pint at a time.Thanks again, Ken. See you at the next village — whichever pub, hangar, or DEFCON corner it ends up in.⸻Keywords: cybersecurity, ethical hacking, pen testing, Infosecurity Europe, embedded systems, car hacking, flight simulator, ICS security, industrial control systems, aviation cybersecurity, hacker mindset, DEFCON___________ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from Infosecurity Europe 2025 London coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/infosec25Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us___________ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before a power crew rolls out to check a transformer, sensors on the grid have often already flagged the problem. Before your smart dishwasher starts its cycle, it might wait for off-peak energy rates. And in the world of autonomous vehicles, lightweight systems constantly scan road conditions before a decision ever reaches the car’s central processor.These aren’t the heroes of their respective systems. They’re the scouts, the context-builders: automated agents that make the entire operation more efficient, timely, and scalable.Cybersecurity is beginning to follow the same path.In an era of relentless digital noise and limited human capacity, AI agents are being deployed to look first, think fast, and flag what matters before security teams ever engage. But these aren’t the cartoonish “AI firefighters” some might suggest. They’re logical engines operating at scale: pruning data, enriching signals, simulating outcomes, and preparing workflows with precision."AI agents are redefining how security teams operate, especially when time and talent are limited," says Kumar Saurabh, CEO of AirMDR. "These agents do more than filter noise. They interpret signals, build context, and prepare response actions before a human ever gets involved."This shift from reactive firefighting to proactive triage is happening across cybersecurity domains. In detection, AI agents monitor user behavior and flag anomalies in real time, often initiating mitigation actions like isolating compromised devices before escalation is needed. In prevention, they simulate attacker behaviors and pressure-test systems, flagging unseen vulnerabilities and attack paths. In response, they compile investigation-ready case files that allow human analysts to jump straight into action."Low-latency, on-device AI agents can operate closer to the data source, better enabling anomaly detection, threat triaging, and mitigation in milliseconds," explains Shomron Jacob, Head of Applied Machine Learning and Platform at Iterate.ai. "This not only accelerates response but also frees up human analysts to focus on complex, high-impact investigations."Fred Wilmot, Co-Founder and CEO of Detecteam, points out that agentic systems are advancing limited expertise by amplifying professionals in multiple ways. "Large foundation models are driving faster response, greater context and more continuous optimization in places like SOC process and tools, threat hunting, detection engineering and threat intelligence operationalization," Wilmot explains. "We’re seeing the dawn of a new way to understand data, behavior and process, while optimizing how we ask the question efficiently, confirm the answer is correct and improve the next answer from the data interaction our agents just had."Still, real-world challenges persist. Costs for tokens and computing power can quickly outstrip the immediate benefit of agentic approaches at scale. Organizations leaning on smaller, customized models may see greater returns but must invest in AI engineering practices to truly realize this advantage. "Companies have to get comfortable with the time and energy required to produce incremental gains," Wilmot adds, "but the incentive to innovate from zero to one in minutes should outweigh the cost of standing still."Analysts at Forrester have noted that while the buzz around so-called agentic AI is real, these systems are only as effective as the context and guardrails they operate within. The power of agentic systems lies in how well they stay grounded in real data, well-defined scopes, and human oversight. ¹ ²While approaches differ, the business case is clear. AI agents can reduce toil, speed up analysis, and extend the reach of small teams. As Saurabh observes, AI agents that handle triage and enrichment in minutes can significantly reduce investigation times and allow analysts to focus on the incidents that truly require human judgment.As organizations wrestle with a growing attack surface and shrinking response windows, the real value of AI agents might not lie in what they replace, but in what they prepare. Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker, points out, "AI can help you detect faster. But Zero Trust stops malware before it ever runs. It’s not about guessing smarter; it’s about not having to guess at all." While AI speeds detection and response, attackers are also using AI to evade defenses, making it vital to pair smart automation with architectures that deny threats by default and only allow what’s explicitly needed.These agents are the eyes ahead, the hands that set the table, and increasingly the reason why the real work can begin faster and smarter than ever before.References1. Forrester. (2024, February 8). Cybersecurity’s latest buzzword has arrived: What agentic AI is — and isn’t. Forrester Blogs. https://www.forrester.com/blogs/cybersecuritys-latest-buzzword-has-arrived-what-agentic-ai-is-and-isnt/ (cc: Allie Mellen and Rowan Curran)2. Forrester. (2024, March 13). The battle for grounding has begun. Forrester Blogs. https://www.forrester.com/blogs/the-battle-for-grounding-has-begun/ (cc: Ted Schadler)________This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to "The Future of Cybersecurity" newsletter on LinkedIn.Sincerely, Sean Martin and TAPE3________Sean Martin is a life-long musician and the host of the Music Evolves Podcast; a career technologist, cybersecurity professional, and host of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast; and is also the co-host of both the Random and Unscripted Podcast and On Location Event Coverage Podcast. These shows are all part of ITSPmagazine—which he co-founded with his good friend Marco Ciappelli, to explore and discuss topics at The Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society.™️Want to connect with Sean and Marco On Location at an event or conference near you? See where they will be next: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-locationTo learn more about Sean, visit his personal website. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cyber threat intelligence (CTI) is no longer just a technical stream of indicators or a feed for security operations center teams. In this episode, Ryan Patrick, Vice President at HITRUST; John Salomon, Board Member at the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN); Tod Beardsley, Vice President of Security Research at runZero; Wayne Lloyd, Federal Chief Technology Officer at RedSeal; Chip Witt, Principal Security Analyst at Radware; and Jason Kaplan, Chief Executive Officer at SixMap, each bring their perspective on why threat intelligence must become a leadership signal that shapes decisions far beyond the security team.From Risk Reduction to OpportunityRyan Patrick explains how organizations are shifting from compliance checkboxes to meaningful, risk-informed decisions that influence structure, operations, and investments. This point is reinforced by John Salomon, who describes CTI as a clear, relatable area of security that motivates chief information security officers to exchange threat information with peers — cooperation that multiplies each organization’s resources and builds a stronger industry front against emerging threats.Real Business ContextTod Beardsley outlines how CTI can directly support business and investment moves, especially when organizations evaluate mergers and acquisitions. Wayne Lloyd highlights the importance of network context, showing how enriched intelligence helps teams move from reactive cleanups to proactive management that ties directly to operational resilience and insurance negotiations.Chip Witt pushes the conversation further by describing CTI as a business signal that aligns threat trends with organizational priorities. Jason Kaplan brings home the reality that for Fortune 500 security teams, threat intelligence is a race — whoever finds the gap first, the defender or the attacker, determines who stays ahead.More Than DefenseThe discussion makes clear that the real value of CTI is not the data alone but the way it helps organizations make decisions that protect, adapt, and grow. This episode challenges listeners to see CTI as more than a defensive feed — it is a strategic advantage when used to strengthen deals, influence product direction, and build trust where it matters most.Tune in to hear how these leaders see the role of threat intelligence changing and why treating it as a leadership signal can shape competitive edge.________This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to "The Future of Cybersecurity" newsletter on LinkedIn.Sincerely, Sean Martin and TAPE3________Sean Martin is a life-long musician and the host of the Music Evolves Podcast; a career technologist, cybersecurity professional, and host of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast; and is also the co-host of both the Random and Unscripted Podcast and On Location Event Coverage Podcast. These shows are all part of ITSPmagazine—which he co-founded with his good friend Marco Ciappelli, to explore and discuss topics at The Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society.™️Want to connect with Sean and Marco On Location at an event or conference near you? See where they will be next: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-locationTo learn more about Sean, visit his personal website. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Getting a start in cybersecurity has never been easy — but for today’s aspiring pen testers, the entry barriers are even higher than they were a decade ago. In this conversation, Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli sit down with Greg Hatcher and John Stigerwalt from White Knight Labs to unpack why they decided to flip the script on entry-level offensive security training.Greg, a former Army Special Operations communicator, and John, who got his break as a self-taught hacker, agree that the traditional path — expensive certifications and theoretical labs — doesn’t reflect the reality of the work. That’s why White Knight Labs is launching the Entry Level Pen Tester (ELPT) program. The idea is straightforward: make high-quality, practical training accessible to anyone, anywhere.Unlike other courses that focus purely on the technical side, the ELPT emphasizes the full skill set a junior pen tester needs. This means not just breaking into systems, but learning how to write clear reports, communicate effectively with clients, and operate as part of a real engagement team. John explains that even the best technical find is worthless if it’s not explained properly or delivered with clear guidance for fixing the issue.Greg points out that the team culture at White Knight Labs borrows from his Special Forces days — small, specialized teams where each individual goes deep on a specific domain but works in tight coordination with others. Their goal for trainees mirrors this: to develop focused, practical skills while understanding how their piece fits into bigger, complex attack scenarios.Affordability and global access are key parts of the mission. The team wants the ELPT to open doors for people who might not have thousands to spend on training. By combining hands-on labs, in-depth modules, real-world scenarios, and a tough final exam, they aim to ensure that passing the ELPT means you’re truly job-ready.For anyone considering a start in offensive security, this episode is a glimpse into a program designed to create more than just hackers — it’s building adaptable, communicative professionals ready to hit the ground running.Learn more about White Knight Labs: https://itspm.ag/white-knight-labs-vukrGuests:John Stigerwalt | Founder at White Knight Labs | Red Team Operations Leader | https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stigerwalt-90a9b4110/Greg Hatcher | Founder at White Knight Labs | SOF veteran | Red Team | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryhatcher2/______________________Keywords: sean martin, marco ciappelli, greg hatcher, john stigerwalt, cybersecurity, pentesting, training, certification, whiteknightlabs, hacking, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand story podcast______________________ResourcesVisit the White Knight Labs Website to learn more: https://itspm.ag/white-knight-labs-vukrLearn more and catch more stories from White Knight Labs on ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/white-knight-labsLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-story Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Random and Unscripted episode, Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin connect the dots between AI, robotics, connected systems, and human behavior. How do machines reshape society—and how do we reshape ourselves in response? A conversation born from their latest articles.This Random and Unscripted episode is exactly what the title promises—a raw, thoughtful exchange between Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin, sparked by their most recent written reflections. The starting point? Two timely articles. Sean unpacks the complexity of securing connected environments—what happens when devices, vehicles, sensors, and platforms become part of something bigger? It’s no longer about protecting individual elements, but understanding how they operate as “systems of systems”—intertwined, dynamic, and vulnerable. Meanwhile, Marco revisits Robbie, Isaac Asimov’s iconic robot story, to explore how our relationship with technology evolves over time. What felt like distant science fiction in the 1980s now hits closer to home, as AI simulates understanding, machines mimic empathy, and humans blur the lines between organic and artificial. The discussion drifts from cybersecurity to human psychology, questioning how interacting with AI reshapes society—and whether our own behavior starts reflecting the technology we create. Machines are learning, systems are growing more complex, and somewhere along the way, humanity is changing too. Stay random. Stay curious. ⸻ 🔹 KEYWORDS: Random and Unscripted, AI, Robotics, Generative AI, System Security, Connected Systems, Asimov, Human-Machine Interaction, Technology and Society, Autonomous Systems, AI Ethics, Cybersecurity ConversationsHosts links:📌 Marco Ciappelli: https://www.marcociappelli.com📌 Sean Martin: https://www.seanmartin.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com _____________________________This Episode’s SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________Robbie, From Fiction to Familiar — Robots, AI, and the Illusion of Consciousness June 29, 2025A new transmission from Musing On Society and Technology Newsletter, by Marco CiappelliI recently revisited one of my oldest companions. Not a person, not a memory, but a story. Robbie, the first of Isaac Asimov’s famous robot tales.It’s strange how familiar words can feel different over time. I first encountered Robbie as a teenager in the 1980s, flipping through a paperback copy of I, Robot. Back then, it was pure science fiction. The future felt distant, abstract, and comfortably out of reach. Robots existed mostly in movies and imagination. Artificial intelligence was something reserved for research labs or the pages of speculative novels. Reading Asimov was a window into possibilities, but they remained possibilities.Today, the story feels different. I listened to it this time—the way I often experience books now—through headphones, narrated by a synthetic voice on a sleek device Asimov might have imagined, but certainly never held. And yet, it wasn’t the method of delivery that made the story resonate more deeply; it was the world we live in now.Robbie was first published in 1939, a time when the idea of robots in everyday life was little more than fantasy. Computers were experimental machines that filled entire rooms, and global attention was focused more on impending war than machine ethics. Against that backdrop, Asimov’s quiet, philosophical take on robotics was ahead of its time.Rather than warning about robot uprisings or technological apocalypse, Asimov chose to explore trust, projection, and the human tendency to anthropomorphize the tools we create. Robbie, the robot, is mute, mechanical, yet deeply present. He is a protector, a companion, and ultimately, an emotional anchor for a young girl named Gloria. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t pretend to understand. But through his actions—loyalty, consistency, quiet presence—he earns trust.Those themes felt distant when I first read them in the ’80s. At that time, robots were factory tools, AI was theoretical, and society was just beginning to grapple with personal computers, let alone intelligent machines. The idea of a child forming a deep emotional bond with a robot was thought-provoking but belonged firmly in the realm of fiction.Listening to Robbie now, decades later, in the age of generative AI, alters everything. Today, machines talk to us fluently. They compose emails, generate artwork, write stories, even simulate empathy. Our interactions with technology are no longer limited to function; they are layered with personality, design, and the subtle performance of understanding.Yet beneath the algorithms and predictive models, the reality remains: these machines do not understand us. They generate language, simulate conversation, and mimic comprehension, but it’s an illusion built from probability and training data, not consciousness. And still, many of us choose to believe in that illusion—sometimes out of convenience, sometimes out of the innate human desire for connection.In that context, Robbie’s silence feels oddly honest. He doesn’t offer comfort through words or simulate understanding. His presence alone is enough. There is no performance. No manipulation. Just quiet, consistent loyalty.The contrast between Asimov’s fictional robot and today’s generative AI highlights a deeper societal tension. For decades, we’ve anthropomorphized our machines, giving them names, voices, personalities. We’ve designed interfaces to smile, chatbots to flirt, AI assistants that reassure us they “understand.” At the same time, we’ve begun to robotize ourselves, adapting to algorithms, quantifying emotions, shaping our behavior to suit systems designed to optimize interaction and efficiency.This two-way convergence was precisely what Asimov spoke about in his 1965 BBC interview, which has been circulating again recently. In that conversation, he didn’t just speculate about machines becoming more human-like. He predicted the merging of biology and technology, the slow erosion of the boundaries between human and machine—a hybrid species, where both evolve toward a shared, indistinct future.We are living that reality now, in subtle and obvious ways. Neural implants, mind-controlled prosthetics, AI-driven decision-making, personalized algorithms—all shaping the way we experience life and interact with the world. The convergence isn’t on the horizon; it’s happening in real time.What fascinates me, listening to Robbie in this new context, is how much of Asimov’s work wasn’t just about technology, but about us. His stories remain relevant not because he perfectly predicted machines, but because he perfectly understood human nature—our fears, our projections, our contradictions.In Robbie, society fears the unfamiliar machine, despite its proven loyalty. In 2025, we embrace machines that pretend to understand, despite knowing they don’t. Trust is no longer built through presence and action, but through the performance of understanding. The more fluent the illusion, the easier it becomes to forget what lies beneath.Asimov’s stories, beginning with Robbie, have always been less about the robots and more about the human condition reflected through them. That hasn’t changed. But listening now, against the backdrop of generative AI and accelerated technological evolution, they resonate with new urgency.I’ll leave you with one of Asimov’s most relevant observations, spoken nearly sixty years ago during that same 1965 interview:“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”In many ways, we’ve fulfilled Asimov’s vision—machines that speak, systems that predict, tools that simulate. But the question of wisdom, of how we navigate this illusion of consciousness, remains wide open.And, as a matter of fact, this reflection doesn’t end here. If today’s machines can already mimic understanding—convincing us they comprehend more than they do—what happens when the line between biology and technology starts to dissolve completely? When carbon and silicon, organic and artificial, begin to merge for real?That conversation deserves its own space—and it will. One of my next newsletters will dive deeper into that inevitable convergence—the hybrid future Asimov hinted at, where defining what’s human, what’s machine, and what exists in-between becomes harder, messier, and maybe impossible to untangle.But that’s a conversation for another day.For now, I’ll sit with that thought, and with Robbie’s quiet, unpretentious loyalty, as the conversation continues.Until next time,Marco_________________________________________________📬 Enjoyed this transmission? Follow the newsletter here:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7079849705156870144/New stories always incoming.🌀 Let’s keep exploring what it means to be human in this Hybrid Analog Digital Society.End of transmission._________________________________________________Share this newsletter and invite anyone you think would enjoy it!As always, let's keep thinking!— Marco [https://www.marcociappelli.com]_________________________________________________This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.Marco Ciappelli | Co-Founder, Creative Director & CMO ITSPmagazine  | Dr. in Political Science / Sociology of Communication l Branding | Content Marketing | Writer | Storyteller | My Podcasts: Redefining Society & Technology / Audio Signals / + | MarcoCiappelli.comTAPE3 is the Artificial Intelligence behind ITSPmagazine—created to be a personal assistant, writing and design collaborator, research companion, brainstorming partner… and, apparently, something new every single day.Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to the "Musing On Society & Technology" newsletter on LinkedIn. 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Guest and HostGuest: Regan Sommer McCoy, Chief Curator of Mixtape Museum | Website: https://sommer.nyc/Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/Show NotesIn this episode of Music Evolves, host Sean Martin connects with Sommer McCoy, founder of the Mixtape Museum, to explore how a simple cassette tape became a cultural vehicle for creativity, connection, and entrepreneurship—especially within hip hop. Sommer’s journey starts with managing hip hop artists like the Clipse, where a label dispute revealed the real power of mixtapes as grassroots distribution tools when the industry’s gatekeepers were roadblocks.Sommer describes mixtapes as more than just homemade compilations; they are living archives of personal and collective history. From recording DJ sets off the radio to carefully curating tapes for summer camp, these stories form a thread that binds generations. Through the Mixtape Museum, Sommer captures not only the tapes themselves but also the hidden data inside—the handwritten J-cards, the audio quality that degrades with each copy, and the layers of social exchange that gave rise to underground music scenes.What’s striking is that the Mixtape Museum does not seek to own every cassette but instead to document, digitize, and study them. Sommer, a database manager by day, focuses on preserving the stories and metadata behind each tape, spotlighting the artists, DJs, collectors, and communities that sustained the mixtape era. Supported by a Grammy Preservation Grant, she’s already digitized dozens of tapes while helping other collectors understand how to safeguard their archives.The conversation touches on how mixtapes laid the groundwork for today’s playlists and streaming culture—yet today’s digital curation lacks the physical, handcrafted artistry that made each cassette unique. Sommer’s mission is to encourage collectors and students alike to look deeper: to uncover forgotten shoebox treasures in attics, to share memories, and to research how these tapes shaped music and culture long before social algorithms took over.At its heart, the Mixtape Museum is an open invitation to honor the past while inspiring new ways to think about music’s role in documenting who we are. For Sommer, each cassette holds more than songs—it holds a memory worth saving.SponsorsAre you interested in sponsoring this show or placing an ad in the podcast?Sponsorship 👉 https://itspm.ag/annual-sponsorshipAd Placement 👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplcResourcesMixtape Museum: https://mixtapemuseum.org/More From Sean Martin on ITSPmagazineMore from Music Evolves: https://www.seanmartin.com/music-evolves-podcastMusic Evolves on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTRJ5du7hFDXjiugu-uNPtWOn Location with Sean and Marco: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-locationITSPmagazine YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itspmagazineBe sure to share and subscribe! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.