Artificial intelligence is not just changing business workflows or creative tools – it is reinventing cybersecurity itself. In the latest MITechTV segment, cybersecurity analyst and author Richard Stiennon joined Mike Brennan to unveil his newest project: a book that tackles one of the most pressing questions in the industry today – how AI security is shaping the future of digital defense.

The book, titled Guardians of the Machine Age: Why AI Security Will Define Digital Defense, takes a deep dive into the emerging market of AI security companies and technologies. It draws heavily on Stiennon’s IT-Harvest research platform, including his continuously expanding cybersecurity database and analysis tools such as the Cybersecurity Dashboard and the Cybersecurity Stack Analysis platform. The result is a first-of-its-kind look at the industry forces reshaping defense, threat response, and enterprise risk.

In earlier MITechTV conversations, Stiennon walked through his IT-Harvest cybersecurity vendor research, the IT-Harvest cybersecurity dashboard, and his cybersecurity stack analysis platform. You can revisit those segments at the links below:

Together, these conversations have built a foundation for understanding how cybersecurity intelligence is evolving. This latest interview moves the narrative forward by examining how AI security fits into that ecosystem and why Stiennon believes it will redefine digital defense in the future.

 

How a Publishing Pause Accelerated a New Book on AI Security

Stiennon’s decision to write this book happened unexpectedly. His publisher paused production of the next edition of Security Yearbook due to inventory levels. With time already blocked to write, Stiennon used the opportunity to tackle a trend he had been closely tracking: the explosion of AI technologies in cybersecurity.

“AI security has been top of mind,” he shared in the segment. “I have the data. I know the vendors. Nobody has written about this space yet – and it is time.”

The book rapidly took shape. Within weeks, Stiennon had drafted more than 53,000 words, sourced interviews, designed early graphics, and begun layout planning. He expects the finished version to land at around 250 pages, representing one of the first comprehensive written records of the AI security market.

The Rise of AI Security as a Standalone Industry

According to Stiennon, AI security has matured rapidly from theory to a large-scale commercial opportunity. His platform tracks hundreds of AI security vendors today, and that number continues to grow as established firms, startups, and global enterprises increasingly embed AI capability into their products.

He believes this transformation is inevitable. Much like cloud computing and mobile before it, AI will become inseparable from security tooling. Stiennon predicts that thousands of cybersecurity companies will classify themselves as AI security vendors either through native development or acquisition.

“AI is everywhere,” he said. “If vendors do not adopt AI, they will fall behind. Every major player in the industry will be an AI security company.”

Mapping AI Security Cyber Defense Challenges to AI-driven Capabilities

One of the central themes in Stiennon’s book connects real-world cybersecurity pain points to AI-powered technologies emerging to address them.

A prime example is alert overload. Enterprises routinely generate tens of thousands of security signals every day. Teams spend valuable time filtering, escalating, and prioritizing events – a costly process that still leaves gaps.

AI security platforms are stepping in to automate this burden. Stiennon highlights companies such as Command Zero, which are building tools capable not only of triaging alerts but also investigating and recommending or executing responses. He believes these systems will transform security operations by dramatically reducing manual work.

“It changes the game for defenders,” he noted, predicting at least one billion-dollar valuation company emerging in this segment.

“By this time next year, every single one of the 4,000 vendors in this book will be AI cybersecurity vendors — they have to adopt AI or fall behind.”

— Richard Stiennon

Guardrails, governance, and securing AI models

Stiennon’s research also highlights other fast-growing categories within AI security, including guardrails designed to restrict unsafe or non-compliant use of AI tools.

As organizations wrestle with sensitive data handling, compliance requirements, and risk reduction, guardrail technologies step in to enforce rules. This includes restricting uploads of customer or healthcare information, blocking malicious queries, and controlling which AI models employees are allowed to use.

He also points to model security as a surprisingly urgent need as enterprises quietly deploy more internal AI systems than most people realize. For example, he references automotive manufacturer General Motors’ reported use of hundreds of AI models internally, a signal of how broadly enterprise AI has already taken root.

Is AI a bubble? Why AI security is built to last

Stiennon acknowledges that skepticism exists — just as it did during the early internet boom. Some analysts call AI a bubble, predicting hype cycles and failures.

His view is different. He sees AI security as positioned for lasting influence because the technology is delivering real outcomes today, from automated defense response to chemical discovery and medical research.

If organizations apply AI thoughtfully and use AI security to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and sharpen their competitive edge, he believes they will weather any market correction. The key, in his view, is to focus on real-world use and measurable impact.

A book written for business leaders and defenders

Guardians of the Machine Age frames AI security within market forces, real-world impacts, regulations such as the EU AI Act, and the companies building solutions today. It aims to give CISOs, analysts, security buyers, and innovation leaders a map of what is happening and why it matters.

As Stiennon puts it, this is a standalone industry — and it needs a book to explain it.

Key Takeaways: Why AI Security Matters Now

This new book and MITechTV segment reinforce a simple truth: AI is no longer an experimental add-on to cybersecurity. It is becoming the backbone of modern digital defense. As automation accelerates, model protection grows, and guardrails mature, AI security is quickly shifting from niche to necessity. Stiennon’s research and writing capture that shift as it happens, offering leaders context and clarity while the market evolves in real time.

If you have been following the IT-Harvest journey on MITechTV, this interview adds another pillar to understanding how cyber companies, buyers, and analysts will navigate the next wave of innovation. The book is not just a snapshot of the AI security industry — it is a roadmap tracking how automation, governance, and risk management will reshape defense in the years ahead.

For additional context, you can explore the previous MITechTV conversations with Richard Stiennon that led to this point:

Together, these interviews form an evolving look at where cybersecurity intelligence is heading — and why AI may end up defining the most important shift in digital defense this decade.