Thought-provoking Things Worth Sharing - Issue #167
The hype and demand for AI is outpacing normal security checks and balances
It’s not just me saying this:
Why AI breaks the traditional security stack — and how to fix it.
AI has been deployed faster than the industry can secure it.
Welcome to this week’s collection of thought-provoking things. For each issue, I will share information about careers and workplace culture, mental health in the workplace, talent development, and key insights into privacy, security, and legal technology.
You can learn more about me here: Mike McBride Online.
The hype and noise around AI is overwhelming. The demand for rolling out AI tools, agents, etc., is just as loud. As usual, when it gets this noisy, security becomes secondary. We’re seeing it everywhere:
96% of IT pros say AI agents are a security risk, but they're deploying them anyway
Are agents a security risk? I don’t think most of us know for sure, which is never where you want to be in this profession. It’s where we are, though. And every day, there seems to be a new announcement like this one, which is going to push me to do some research:
Worth Reading - ChatGPT can now connect to Outlook, Teams, Gmail, Google Drive, and other services.
From an end-user perspective, this is interesting and smart.
From the perspective of being responsible for securing AI use within a firm's M365 environment, this is somewhat unsettling.
Right before Memorial Day, I wrote about being exhausted trying to keep up with all things AI. Cybersecurity professionals have got to be feeling that. It seems that trying to stay ahead of AI in terms of vetting tools for security purposes is a lost cause right now. We’re all playing catch-up. I can’t imagine anyone is comfortable being in that position.
How long before we see a significant data breach due to unsecured AI use? When it happens, will it make a difference?
Resources like this might be helpful - How to deploy AI safely.
Careers and the Workplace
Worth Reading - Gen Z, millennials: A college degree is a waste of money and time
When you're looking at student loan debt and an uncertain job market, while being asked to learn new skills, it's understandable to question what all that college was for in the first place. I'm not saying there's no value in a college education. Still, the cost-benefit analysis is changing for many people right now, because learning and upskilling won't stop when school is over. They keep going, and it's only going to keep happening faster.
Some good resources in this one:
We know AI is changing everything in the job market, and will likely continue to do so.
In light of these changes, what skills should you develop?
10 Work Skills Every Recruiter Wants to See Today
More younger employees might get interested in management if we could somehow make it sucks less, right?
Artificial Intelligence
Worth Reading - LLMs are Making Me Dumber
Maybe instead of panicking that we're all getting dumber, we need a balanced approach like Vincent's. Decide which skills can be eroded and offloaded and which ones you refuse to give up.
Also, Clayton doesn’t find any humanity in AI writing - I'd rather read the prompt.
Is Anthropic's CEO a Psychopath or a Liar?
Which is it? Does Dario Amodei believe AI is going to shatter billions of lives and doesn't care, or is this part of the AI hype cycle?
It’s complicated, but there’s no question that technology of all kinds is upping the demand for energy beyond anything we’ve seen - Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact.
Training and Development
For eDiscovery professionals, especially those responsible for training others, this could become a helpful resource - The E-discovery Educators Network is Here!
For trainers, this is a vital skill:
This is a requirement - The Power of Lifelong Learning: A Gateway to Personal and Professional Growth
Mental Health in the Workplace
This is a serious process that you should go through before making any decisions. It’s not as easy as telling your story. There are a lot of things to consider about how that story changes stuff at work and in personal relationships.
Sharing - How Safety and Success Intertwine in Childhood
Asking someone to help you, to put them out in any way, is not only bothersome, but it can often lead to violence. The eggshells Kara describes in the article are a visceral memory for me. I also vividly recall all the opportunities I didn't take advantage of growing up, because they might have required me to ask for help from a parent.
Imagine taking that lesson to the workplace, a marriage, or adult friendships.
Related link shared in the article above: Millions of US children have parents with substance use disorder, and the consequences are staggering - new research
The post above is from my Child Abuse Survivor blog. If you’re interested in more content about trauma, mental health, abuse, etc., consider subscribing to that newsletter and sharing it with your friends.
Just take the day. - It's Time To Normalize Not Explaining Why You're Taking A Day Off
If you or someone you know works in accounting, a New Book Focuses on Mental Health for Accounting Pros.
Privacy, Security, and Legal Tech
A good question:
Are the days of a quick Google Search gone?
Google Has Abandoned What Made People Love Google
If I had a nickel for every case listed here, I wouldn’t have a ton of money, but it’s weird it happens this often, right?
Should we blame AI? Maybe not - The Real Error Is Human: AI Can’t Cure Carelessness.
Some lawyers simply don't read the documents prepared for them -- whether by AI or another person -- before filing them with the court.
Ouch!
That’s all, folks. If you found something interesting in this week’s newsletter, please share it with your friends. It’s the best way to help support the effort I put into sharing this with you each week.