ClearTech Loop: In the Know, On the Move

From Reaction to Prediction in AI Security with Evan Kirstel

ClearTech Research / Jo Peterson Season 1 Episode 27

Security teams have spent years operating in reaction mode. Alerts fire, analysts scramble, and incident response often moves at human speed while adversaries move faster. 

In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Evan Kirstel to talk about how generative AI is changing that reality. Evan shares practical examples of how AI powered triage is shrinking incident response timelines from hours to minutes and why speed, when paired with better analysis and guidance, can fundamentally change outcomes. 

The conversation goes beyond faster detection and digs into what this shift really means for security teams and CISOs: 

AI is enabling analysts to move from reacting after the fact to predicting threats as they emerge. 

Entry level SOC teams are being up leveled with remediation paths and decision support, not just alerts. 

Security and privacy controls can be embedded into AI development early without slowing innovation, and in many cases, actually accelerating it. 

And CISOs are being pushed into a broader governance role as AI becomes both a critical capability and a growing threat surface. 

If you’re trying to understand how AI is reshaping security operations today and what leaders need to be thinking about next, this episode brings clarity to the conversation. 

👉 Subscribe to ClearTech Loop on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/ 

Key Quotes 

“They can cut incident response times from hours to minutes. Just like an emergency room, minutes matter.” — Evan Kirstel 

“I think this gives us a chance to really up level our more entry level SOC folks, and it gives them remediation paths. It doesn’t just find things, it gives solutions to the problem.” — Jo Peterson 

Three Big Ideas from This Episode 

1. AI powered triage changes the math of incident response 

AI is compressing detection, analysis, and decision cycles. When response moves from hours to minutes, outcomes change and teams gain back control during critical moments. 

2. Proactive security starts with better guidance, not just faster alerts 

AI is helping teams predict and prepare, not just react. By offering remediation paths and context, it allows SOC analysts to make smarter decisions under pressure. 

3. Governance becomes a core CISO responsibility in an AI driven world 

As AI adoption accelerates, CISOs must balance speed with guardrails. Embedded security, privacy by design, and clear governance frameworks are now essential to maintaining trust and reducing risk. 

Episode Notes / Links for Suzie to Fill Out 

🎧 Listen: in the player above
▶ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BFkpNCOQfnw
📰 Subscribe to the ClearTech Loop Newsletter:
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/ 

Resources Mentioned