{"id":88362,"topic":"ai","source":"WAFF","title":"National Cyber Summit puts AI’s impact on the workforce in focus - WAFF","url":"https://www.waff.com/2026/09/23/national-cyber-summit-puts-ais-impact-workforce-focus/","url_hash":"3d97e7b753ac7433e3966b5385681481228ad163","author":"","summary":"<a href=\"https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxPTFVHbWVta0FxU1oyYzRiSlhDUVZ2cG85X2xLRk9mTW8yVFZxOFJxNXJDUmV2MWQxbmpaRG16a1Q2SzVsSzBrb0hoaHFoaDMwR1VPUlRhcXJRbnFGbndsQkE5eXdodTdUMjNjX3NPXzVlZEdudnE1VzAxa1FPMHczQWpzUHdORzFvRTNYWkdQd9IBowFBVV95cUxOejMwM0hhemgyaTF2NW9GSFpvclBUc0VQZVJPdGdsbHNPUk9zRVRMclJJc2E0ZnBtQ05HZWtZWFhBTTlMS0JoUlV5OGNFd2plRklYZnlYbks4WUJTc2t6cHJKZW1nR1hydWdLam1TTzVIaUV2RGVUNDIwdnhTSVQ0MHZBMHNnUmQzWHI1cWF5NERuaHVaSWM3SU41M1JNRVEtQnZZ?oc=5\" target=\"_blank\">National Cyber Summit puts AI’s impact on the workforce in focus</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color=\"#6f6f6f\">WAFF</font>","content":"HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Artificial intelligence is changing more than how people do their jobs. Some Huntsville cybersecurity employers say it is also changing how they determine whether someone is ready to be hired.\nAI and its growing role in the workforce were among the conversations Tuesday as students, cybersecurity professionals and employers gathered in Huntsville for the National Cyber Summit.\nJamie Miller, CEO of Huntsville-based cybersecurity company Mission Multiplier, said AI has already made its way into the hiring process.\n“AI is really changing the game in all facets, particularly hiring,” Miller said. “Really understanding kind of what people know is more difficult. People are using AI to kind of enable what they say to you in interviews.”\nThat is putting a greater focus on what candidates can do beyond simply knowing the latest technology.\nMiller said rapid changes in technology mean his company looks closely at how candidates think, learn and solve problems.\n“I don’t think it’s as important to be technology specific,” Miller said. “But I think it’s really looking at how you learn.”\nMiller said the company looks for people with critical-thinking, presentation, interpersonal and management skills, along with the ability to solve difficult problems.\nFor students preparing to enter that workforce, the challenge is already showing up in the classroom.\nMississippi State University senior Constance Olexy, who wants to become a cybercrime investigator, said she has watched students turn to AI while learning programming.\n“I have a class, a programming class, where most of the people were doing it through AI and not actually learning how to do it themselves,” Olexy said. “It helps and it makes it easier, but it’s easier to not actually learn it and just rely on AI for everything.”\nOlexy is using the National Cyber Summit to gain hands-on experience in the field. She said the training gives her an opportunity to build experience before beginning her career and determine whether cybercrime investigation is the path she wants to pursue.\nJeremy Blevins, a senior GRC consultant at Mad Security and former cybersecurity instructor, said AI can be valuable when it is used to help people understand difficult material rather than replace their own thinking.\nBlevins said he uses AI in his own work to break down complex tasks and filter information, but he emphasized the importance of verifying the information it produces.\n“Being able to use AI as a tool instead of being used by AI is going to be a critical skill for people entering the workforce,” Blevins said.\nThat learning curve is not limited to students.\nKaren Williams, a system security engineer and founder of Cyber Brews, said AI is also helping experienced professionals learn new technologies faster.\n“It’s really changing the way that we’re learning across generations,” Williams said. “Even folks like me who have worked for 20 years, I can go in and ask about a new tool, and it can tell me step by step how to use that tool, and that’s how I’ve been able to stay current with technologies.”\nFor employers such as Miller, knowing how to use AI is increasingly part of being prepared for the workforce. He said candidates need to understand the technology while still bringing the human skills needed to think through difficult problems.\n“AI is a tool, and it’s really how you use it,” Miller said. “And I think if you can use it well, we can succeed.”\nClick Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!\nCopyright 2026 WAFF. All rights reserved.","image_url":"https://gray-waff-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/3JY2G4O3TNBDHHNMXRBRHXVLWM.png?auth=404a39c9e19a67a1c508f9b053a9f1a3d838ef2ca2e9bc707768216c92c12082&width=1200&height=600&smart=true","lang":"en","published_at":"2026-09-23T00:39:00+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-09-23T01:15:04+00:00","status":"read","starred":0,"extract_state":"ok","summary_auto":"(WAFF) - Artificial intelligence is changing more than how people do their jobs. 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(WAFF) - Artificial intelligence is changing more than how people do their jobs. Some Huntsville cybersecurity employers say it is also changing how they determine whether someone is ready to be hired.\nAI and its growing role in the workforce were among the conversations Tuesday as students, cybersecurity professionals and employers gathered in Huntsville for the National Cyber Summit.\nJamie Miller, CEO of Huntsville-based cybersecurity company Mission Multiplier, said AI has already made its way into the hiring process.\n“AI is really changing the game in all facets, particularly hiring,” Miller said. “Really understanding kind of what people know is more difficult. People are using AI to kind of enable what they say to you in interviews.”\nThat is putting a greater focus on what candidates can do beyond simply knowing the latest technology.\nMiller said rapid changes in technology mean his company looks closely at how candidates think, learn and solve problems.\n“I don’t think it’s as important to be technology specific,” Miller said. “But I think it’s really looking at how you learn.”\nMiller said the company looks for people with critical-thinking, presentation, interpersonal and management skills, along with the ability to solve difficult problems.\nFor students preparing to enter that workforce, the challenge is already showing up in the classroom.\nMississippi State University senior Constance Olexy, who wants to become a cybercrime investigator, said she has watched students turn to AI while learning programming.\n“I have a class, a programming class, where most of the people were doing it through AI and not actually learning how to do it themselves,” Olexy said. “It helps and it makes it easier, but it’s easier to not actually learn it and just rely on AI for everything.”\nOlexy is using the National Cyber Summit to gain hands-on experience in the field. She said the training gives her an opportunity to build experience before beginning her career and determine whether cybercrime investigation is the path she wants to pursue.\nJeremy Blevins, a senior GRC consultant at Mad Security and former cybersecurity instructor, said AI can be valuable when it is used to help people understand difficult material rather than replace their own thinking.\nBlevins said he uses AI in his own work to break down complex tasks and filter information, but he emphasized the importance of verifying the information it produces.\n“Being able to use AI as a tool instead of being used by AI is going to be a critical skill for people entering the workforce,” Blevins said.\nThat learning curve is not limited to students.\nKaren Williams, a system security engineer and founder of Cyber Brews, said AI is also helping experienced professionals learn new technologies faster.\n“It’s really changing the way that we’re learning across generations,” Williams said. “Even folks like me who have worked for 20 years, I can go in and ask about a new tool, and it can tell me step by step how to use that tool, and that’s how I’ve been able to stay current with technologies.”\nFor employers such as Miller, knowing how to use AI is increasingly part of being prepared for the workforce. He said candidates need to understand the technology while still bringing the human skills needed to think through difficult problems.\n“AI is a tool, and it’s really how you use it,” Miller said. “And I think if you can use it well, we can succeed.”\nClick Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!\nCopyright 2026 WAFF. All rights reserved.","excerpt":"(WAFF) - Artificial intelligence is changing more than how people do their jobs. 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People are using AI to kind of enable what they say to you in interviews.”\nThat is putting a greater focus on what candidates can do beyond simply knowing the latest technology.\nMiller said rapid changes in technology mean his company looks closely at how candidates think, learn and solve problems.\n“I don’t think it’s as important to be technology specific,” Miller said. “But I think it’s really looking at how you learn.”\nMiller said the company looks for people with critical-thinking, presentation, interpersonal and management skills, along with the ability to solve difficult problems.\nFor students preparing to enter that workforce, the challenge is already showing up in the classroom.\nMississippi State University senior Constance Olexy, who wants to become a cybercrime investigator, said she has watched students turn to AI while learning programming.\n“I have a class, a programming class, where most of the people were doing it through AI and not actually learning how to do it themselves,” Olexy said. “It helps and it makes it easier, but it’s easier to not actually learn it and just rely on AI for everything.”\nOlexy is using the National Cyber Summit to gain hands-on experience in the field. She said the training gives her an opportunity to build experience before beginning her career and determine whether cybercrime investigation is the path she wants to pursue.\nJeremy Blevins, a senior GRC consultant at Mad Security and former cybersecurity instructor, said AI can be valuable when it is used to help people understand difficult material rather than replace their own thinking.\nBlevins said he uses AI in his own work to break down complex tasks and filter information, but he emphasized the importance of verifying the information it produces.\n“Being able to use AI as a tool instead of being used by AI is going to be a critical skill for people entering the workforce,” Blevins said.\nThat learning curve is not limited to students.\nKaren Williams, a system security engineer and founder of Cyber Brews, said AI is also helping experienced professionals learn new technologies faster.\n“It’s really changing the way that we’re learning across generations,” Williams said. “Even folks like me who have worked for 20 years, I can go in and ask about a new tool, and it can tell me step by step how to use that tool, and that’s how I’ve been able to stay current with technologies.”\nFor employers such as Miller, knowing how to use AI is increasingly part of being prepared for the workforce. He said candidates need to understand the technology while still bringing the human skills needed to think through difficult problems.\n“AI is a tool, and it’s really how you use it,” Miller said. “And I think if you can use it well, we can succeed.”\nClick Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!\nCopyright 2026 WAFF. 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Some Huntsville cybersecurity employers say it is also changing how they determine whether someone is ready to be hired.","full_text":"HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Artificial intelligence is changing more than how people do their jobs. Some Huntsville cybersecurity employers say it is also changing how they determine whether someone is ready to be hired.\nAI and its growing role in the workforce were among the conversations Tuesday as students, cybersecurity professionals and employers gathered in Huntsville for the National Cyber Summit.\nJamie Miller, CEO of Huntsville-based cybersecurity company Mission Multiplier, said AI has already made its way into the hiring process.\n“AI is really changing the game in all facets, particularly hiring,” Miller said. “Really understanding kind of what people know is more difficult. People are using AI to kind of enable what they say to you in interviews.”\nThat is putting a greater focus on what candidates can do beyond simply knowing the latest technology.\nMiller said rapid changes in technology mean his company looks closely at how candidates think, learn and solve problems.\n“I don’t think it’s as important to be technology specific,” Miller said. “But I think it’s really looking at how you learn.”\nMiller said the company looks for people with critical-thinking, presentation, interpersonal and management skills, along with the ability to solve difficult problems.\nFor students preparing to enter that workforce, the challenge is already showing up in the classroom.\nMississippi State University senior Constance Olexy, who wants to become a cybercrime investigator, said she has watched students turn to AI while learning programming.\n“I have a class, a programming class, where most of the people were doing it through AI and not actually learning how to do it themselves,” Olexy said. “It helps and it makes it easier, but it’s easier to not actually learn it and just rely on AI for everything.”\nOlexy is using the National Cyber Summit to gain hands-on experience in the field. She said the training gives her an opportunity to build experience before beginning her career and determine whether cybercrime investigation is the path she wants to pursue.\nJeremy Blevins, a senior GRC consultant at Mad Security and former cybersecurity instructor, said AI can be valuable when it is used to help people understand difficult material rather than replace their own thinking.\nBlevins said he uses AI in his own work to break down complex tasks and filter information, but he emphasized the importance of verifying the information it produces.\n“Being able to use AI as a tool instead of being used by AI is going to be a critical skill for people entering the workforce,” Blevins said.\nThat learning curve is not limited to students.\nKaren Williams, a system security engineer and founder of Cyber Brews, said AI is also helping experienced professionals learn new technologies faster.\n“It’s really changing the way that we’re learning across generations,” Williams said. “Even folks like me who have worked for 20 years, I can go in and ask about a new tool, and it can tell me step by step how to use that tool, and that’s how I’ve been able to stay current with technologies.”\nFor employers such as Miller, knowing how to use AI is increasingly part of being prepared for the workforce. He said candidates need to understand the technology while still bringing the human skills needed to think through difficult problems.\n“AI is a tool, and it’s really how you use it,” Miller said. “And I think if you can use it well, we can succeed.”\nClick Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!\nCopyright 2026 WAFF. 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Some Huntsville cybersecurity employers say it is also changing how they determine whether someone is ready to be hired.\nAI and its growing role in the workforce were among the conversations Tuesday as students, cybersecurity professionals and employers gathered in Huntsville for the National Cyber Summit.\nJamie Miller, CEO of Huntsville-based cybersecurity company Mission Multiplier, said AI has already made its way into the hiring process.\n“AI is really changing the game in all facets, particularly hiring,” Miller said. “Really understanding kind of what people know is more difficult. People are using AI to kind of enable what they say to you in interviews.”\nThat is putting a greater focus on what candidates can do beyond simply knowing the latest technology.\nMiller said rapid changes in technology mean his company looks closely at how candidates think, learn and solve problems.\n“I don’t think it’s as important to be technology specific,” Miller said. “But I think it’s really looking at how you learn.”\nMiller said the company looks for people with critical-thinking, presentation, interpersonal and management skills, along with the ability to solve difficult problems.\nFor students preparing to enter that workforce, the challenge is already showing up in the classroom.\nMississippi State University senior Constance Olexy, who wants to become a cybercrime investigator, said she has watched students turn to AI while learning programming.\n“I have a class, a programming class, where most of the people were doing it through AI and not actually learning how to do it themselves,” Olexy said. “It helps and it makes it easier, but it’s easier to not actually learn it and just rely on AI for everything.”\nOlexy is using the National Cyber Summit to gain hands-on experience in the field. She said the training gives her an opportunity to build experience before beginning her career and determine whether cybercrime investigation is the path she wants to pursue.\nJeremy Blevins, a senior GRC consultant at Mad Security and former cybersecurity instructor, said AI can be valuable when it is used to help people understand difficult material rather than replace their own thinking.\nBlevins said he uses AI in his own work to break down complex tasks and filter information, but he emphasized the importance of verifying the information it produces.\n“Being able to use AI as a tool instead of being used by AI is going to be a critical skill for people entering the workforce,” Blevins said.\nThat learning curve is not limited to students.\nKaren Williams, a system security engineer and founder of Cyber Brews, said AI is also helping experienced professionals learn new technologies faster.\n“It’s really changing the way that we’re learning across generations,” Williams said. “Even folks like me who have worked for 20 years, I can go in and ask about a new tool, and it can tell me step by step how to use that tool, and that’s how I’ve been able to stay current with technologies.”\nFor employers such as Miller, knowing how to use AI is increasingly part of being prepared for the workforce. He said candidates need to understand the technology while still bringing the human skills needed to think through difficult problems.\n“AI is a tool, and it’s really how you use it,” Miller said. “And I think if you can use it well, we can succeed.”\nClick Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news, sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel!\nCopyright 2026 WAFF. 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