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AI Confusion, Privacy Pressures, and the Search for Real Value in Cybersecurity | A Black Hat USA 2025 Conversation with Evgeniy Kharam | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli
Episode 2482
This year at Black Hat USA 2025, the conversation is impossible to escape: artificial intelligence. But while every vendor claims an AI-powered edge, the real question is how organizations can separate meaningful innovation from noise.
In our discussion with Evgeniy Kharam, Vice President of Cybersecurity Architecture at Herjavec Group (formerly), Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Discern Security, and long-time security leader and author, the theme of AI confusion takes center stage. Evgeniy notes that CISOs and security architects don’t have the time or resources to analyze what “AI” means in every product pitch. With over 4,000 vendors in the ecosystem, each layering its own flavor of AI, the burden falls on security leaders to distinguish hype from usable automation.
From Gondola Pitches to AI Overload
Evgeniy shares how his creative networking events—skiing, biking, and beyond—mirror the industry’s need for genuine connection and trust. Just as his “gondola pitch” builds authentic engagement, buyers want clarity and honesty from technology providers. The proliferation of AI labels, however, makes that trust harder to establish.
Where AI Can Help
Evgeniy highlights areas where AI can reduce friction, from vulnerability management and detection to policy writing and compliance. Yet, even here, issues such as hallucinations, privacy tradeoffs, and ethics cannot be ignored. When AI begins influencing employee monitoring or analyzing sensitive data, organizations face difficult questions about fairness, transparency, and control.
The Unspoken Challenge: Surveillance and Trust
As we discuss the balance between employee privacy and corporate protection, it becomes clear that AI introduces new layers of surveillance. In Europe, cultural and legal boundaries create clear separation between personal and professional lives. In North America, the lines blur, raising ethical debates that may ultimately be tested in courts.
The takeaway? AI has the potential to unlock workflows that were previously too costly or complex. But without transparency, governance, and a commitment to responsible use, the “AI in everything” trend risks overwhelming the very leaders it is meant to help.
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Guest:
Evgeniy Kharam, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Discern Security | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekharam/
Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com
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Episode Sponsors
ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974
BlackCloak: https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb
Akamai: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwc
DropzoneAI: https://itspm.ag/dropzoneai-641
Stellar Cyber: https://itspm.ag/stellar-9dj3
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Resources
Learn more and catch more stories from our Black Hat USA 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/bhusa25
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