Human in the loop: Six steps to master AI collaboration

In today's rapidly evolving cyber security landscape, AI is transforming how we identify and respond to threats. However, the true power of AI in cyber security isn't just about the technology, it's about the partnership between AI systems and human professionals.

This human-machine collaboration can enhance decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork, ultimately leading to greater job security and satisfaction for those in the field.

So, how can your organisation harness a piece of the magic? We caught up with QA’s portfolio Director for Cyber Security, Richard Beck, to explore.

It’s Richard’s belief that the potential of human-AI collaboration goes even further in its advantages, and that “by learning to master effective collaboration with AI systems (and how they foster better collaboration among professionals), we can break down barriers to joining the profession.”

The human element in AI-driven cyber security

AI is designed for processing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns that might elude human eyes. But it can’t do everything. It's the human in the loop who brings critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity to the table.

“In AI-assisted environments, the role of human decision-making cannot be overstated,” according to Richard. Adaptability is the human edge in AI-driven cyber security; a superpower in rapidly evolving threat landscapes. Today and for the future, cyber professionals remain essential in interpreting AI insights, making judgment calls, and adapting strategies in real-time.

To thrive in AI-driven cyber security roles, professionals must develop skills that enhance their ability to collaborate with AI systems. A few of those skills include:

• Effective decision-making
• Problem-solving in partnership with AI
• Ease of understanding AI outputs
• Critically questioning and refining those outputs

How does embracing AI create new opportunities and better output?

By becoming the ‘human in the loop’, working in tandem with AI, we can leverage the combined strengths of both, achieving better outcomes.

AI not only supports decision-making but also enhances collaboration among team members. It can help interpret and reframe communications to reduce misunderstandings, foster open-mindedness, and even mediate conflicts before they occur.

In addition, AI offers a data-driven perspective while humans provide context and experience.

“When we combine these perspectives,” says Richard “it leads to a more resilient cyber strategy. I’d like to see more cyber professionals become braver and motivated to partner with AI, to find greater job satisfaction and security, as they will become indispensable in interpreting and implementing AI-generated insights.”

So, what does it take to get there? Here’s Richard’s advice:

Six steps to master human-AI collaboration:

• Decision-making: Humans must make final decisions, especially in complex scenarios where ethical considerations or nuanced judgment is required.
• Problem solving: While AI can suggest solutions, human creativity and experience are needed to implement them effectively.
• Adaptability: Complex cyber threats evolve at pace, and so must our responses. Human adaptability complements AI’s speed and efficiency.
• Communication: Being able to interpret AI outputs and explain them clearly to others, will enhance your communication skills to better collaborate both with AI and your wider team.
• Collaboration: Learn to work with AI to enhance teamwork. AI can help bridge gaps between different cultures, communication styles, making collaboration more efficient.
• Competence and security: Developing expertise and competence in using AI enhances job performance and increases job security, cyber professionals becoming key players in the AI-driven world.

The take-away

Richard is certain that “AI will bridge many technical and capability cyber security gaps, however humans will always continue to build trust. AI can enhance communication dynamics, but our enduring need to have trust is a reminder that human interaction remains essential for collaboration.”

What does this look like in action?

AI can rephrase messages to align with different communication styles, improving clarity and reducing friction. By analysing communication patterns, it can help us enhance teamwork and reduce biases as a neutral mediator. Richard asserts that “AI will continue to play a complex role in cyber team dynamics, intersecting at speed.”

With much disruption and hype surrounding AI, (with much of the news cycle suggesting that sooner or later we will all be replaced by this new tech) we believe at QA that it’s worth highlighting the opposite:

AI can in fact help professionals feel more competent and secure their roles, creating new opportunities for contribution. It will play a key role in boosting motivation at both the individual and team levels, creating opportunities to focus on more rewarding tasks, fostering a stronger sense of ownership over work.

For Richard, the picture is decidedly bright: “I expect AI to empower cyber practitioners to take on the roles of the future, guiding teams in how best to leverage AI tools for maximum impact.”

The integration of AI into cyber security is not about replacing humans, it's about enhancing their capabilities.

By embracing the human-AI partnership, cyber security professionals can achieve better outcomes, foster stronger teamwork, and find greater job satisfaction. The future of cyber security lies in AI-collaboration, where human and machine intelligence come together to create more cyber-resilient organisations.

Ready to upgrade your cyber skillset to collaborate with AI? Check out our AI Security governance pathway.