Authenticity in the Age of AI — Day 7

Today’s focus has been setting up my GitHub account and adding something meaningful to it. My goal is to start with an automation project, ideally related to AI or cloud technologies. Having something tangible on GitHub feels like a step toward solidifying my personal and professional growth.

Reflections on Authenticity in an AI-Driven World

I recently came across a post questioning what authenticity will mean in a world dominated by AI. It’s a question that has been on my mind often. As someone who embraces AI for both personal and professional projects, I find myself wondering: if an AI captures my essence and articulates my thoughts better than I could alone, is that authentic? Similarly, if I create art or content with AI’s help, does it reflect my originality, or is it merely a reinterpretation of others’ work?

Fundamentally, we’re all made up of other things, conceptually, inspirationally, and even atomically. As the article “Trolley Problem: Safety Versus Security of Generative AI” discusses, authenticity isn’t just about originality but about how we perceive and value what’s created. Protection extends beyond privacy to include how we safeguard the integrity of what we create and consume. These questions fuel my curiosity and push me to explore what authenticity means in the AI age.

Cyber Experience and Lessons Learned

My journey through cybersecurity has been varied. I’ve worked in SOCs, digital forensics, and incident response. I’ve used tools like SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and XDR and have had exposure to cloud services. My introduction to AI/ML came through an Endpoint Protection Platform that used AI to analyze activity. Far from feeling threatened by its potential, I was in awe of its capabilities. This hands-on experience showed me a glimpse of what the future might hold, not just in cybersecurity but in human interaction with technology as a whole.

The article “Trustwave’s 2025 Cybersecurity Predictions” captures this evolution: “What will set this next generation of AI-powered cyberattacks apart is their seamless integration across the entire attack lifecycle.” This isn’t just a future possibility, it’s happening now, and it’s a reminder of why I’m driven to keep learning and evolving.

Education in a Changing World

I’m currently pursuing my MBA with a concentration in MIS, and while I see the value in formal education, I question its necessity in today’s world. Articles like “Cloud, AI, and Cybersecurity Converge” highlight how rapidly technology is reshaping industries. Formal education remains valuable, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. With the right combination of certifications, experience, and networking, I believe anyone can thrive in this field.

Building Toward the Cloud

Cloud technologies are becoming an increasingly important part of my focus. As the article “MITRE ATT&CK: Container Security Detection” emphasizes, securing the cloud requires a comprehensive approach. Containers, for example, are a vital part of cloud infrastructure, but they also introduce unique vulnerabilities. Understanding these nuances will be critical as I pursue certifications like the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator — Associate and the AWS AI Practitioner.

Practical Progress and Personal Growth

Today, I’ve also been reaching out to family and friends to test simple automations I’ve built. While these tasks are basic and could have been accomplished without AI, I’m incorporating AI to enhance decision-making and logic. Projects like these are helping me build confidence while addressing real-world problems.

The article “HackAgent: Automation in Action” reinforces this point: “Automation is not about replacing human input but about enabling humans to focus on higher-level decision-making.” This is precisely what I aim to achieve, creating tools that augment human potential rather than replacing it.

A Call to Action

As I continue this journey, I’m reminded of the importance of balancing creativity and practicality, curiosity and discipline. How do you define authenticity in your work? How do you see AI shaping not just your profession but your identity? Let’s navigate these questions together and embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead.