Walking into RSA this year going to be a lot like visiting a theme park—and, of course, that theme is AI. It’s everywhere you look. As it should be. AI has already sent shockwaves through security—in the best and worst possible ways, reshaping everything from threat intel to detection to DevOps to incident response to SOCs to vulnerability management to workforce. But also attack surfaces, cyberattacks, bad actors, trust, privacy, and the threats themselves.
As experts and practitioners gather in San Francisco this week, Tech-Channels™ is on the ground to determine the best ideas on leveraging the power of AI for cybersecurity without ratcheting up the risk.
RSA kicks off with a strong Monday lineup…here’s what we’re excited about:
CSA Summit—Securing the Future of Trust in AI, Cloud & Zero Trust
8:00 am - 3:00 pm, Moscone South 304
The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) can be counted on to lead no matter what the security topic is. The CSA Summit at RSAC is always a must-attend. And this year’s meet-up promises to bring global security leaders together to sculpt the contours of what comes next, focusing on how AI can secure and must be secured as defenders seek to build trust on trusted (another word tk) cloud assurance, zero trust modernization and digital sovereignty.
AI, Regulation, & the Battle for Talent: The Future of the Cyber Workforce
8:30 - 9:20 am, Moscone South Esplanade 154
The rapid rise of AI has ratcheted up anxiety over both how it will be regulated and how it will affect the workforce. This session offers insights from the 2026 SANS|GIAC Workforce Report, and the trends likely to reshape the cyber workforce. But it also offers solutions, as well as views on hiring, skills and how to retain employees by a panel of Industry leaders.
We Put AI in Our SOC - Here’s What Broke (and What Didn’t)
8:30 AM - 9:20 am, Moscone West 3001
While others pontificate on how AI is going to revolutionize the SOC, Tyson Foods Inc. and Exeter Finance LLC took the plunge. And their engineers are going to tell all, offering what they promise is a “brutally honest” assessment of the realities of integrating LLMs and AI copilots into enterprise detection and response workflows. They’ll explain what initiatives accelerated triage and broke production and share some surprises along the way.
When the Adversary Lives at Home: Insider Threat Lessons from DV Chatbots
8:30 AM - 9:20 am, Moscone West 3020
For all the benefits they offer, chatbots are redefining insider threats and organizations must act quickly to design AI systems that can minimize risks like digital trace exposure, unclear data handling, and coercive misuse. This session will review audit findings and offer guidance for AI systems that ultimately are more resilient to insider threats.
Catching Fire: The Latest Cyber Law Hot Topics
Laws around cyber are changing rapidly—and those who don't keep pace will find themselves in jeopardy. This panel of tech-savvy lawyers will discuss the hottest cyber issues, including “the federal AI Action Plan wakeup call; deepfakes and other national security threats; regulating ‘I see you” technologies (geolocation); mixed emotions about emotion AI; protecting DNA and more in bankruptcy and deals; do AI policies really manage risk; and the new cold war of data.’”
Affinity Meetup: Women and Womxn in Cyber
9:40 am - 10:30 am, Moscone West 2014, Networking
For all the value women bring to the cybersecurity industry, progress has been slow. But there is strength in numbers and this meetup brings together women and womxn in cybersecurity so they can share their experiences and meet like-minded peers.
Techstrong Seminar—AI NativeDev and the Next Evolution of DevSecOps
8:00 am - 3:00 pm, Moscone South 306
Techstrong has assembled a strong cast of practitioners who are leading the charge toward AI-native security engineered for AI-first development. Good thing, too, because traditional security models aren’t going to be sufficient for much longer. AI-enhanced tools will soon be in the rearview as AI-native security architecture takes the lead.
AI Everywhere, Accountability Now
If RSA 2026 makes anything clear, it’s that AI has moved from emerging capability to embedded reality in cybersecurity. The discussions here reflect a shift in focus toward operationalizing AI in ways that strengthen defenses while managing new layers of complexity, risk, and accountability. The challenge is in how to integrate AI into security programs with rigor, clarity, and measurable impact.
The stand-out organizations will be those that incorporate AI with intention. They'll be investing in governance, aligning teams on responsible use, and maintaining visibility into how these systems behave in real environments. This adjustment also means acknowledging that progress will come with friction. What matters is how quickly teams can learn, adapt, and refine.
As the week unfolds, we'll get to see how AI is shaping the future of cybersecurity in real time. The opportunity is significant, but so is the responsibility to ensure that innovation advances security outcomes rather than introducing new vulnerabilities.