AI Is Making Security More Agile: Highlights from ChiBrrCon 2026

In 1900, Chicago undertook a transformative engineering project by reversing the flow of the Chicago River to prevent sewage contamination of Lake Michigan, a feat mirrored in today's information security challenges addressed at ChiBrrCon 2026. The conference, held at the Illinois Institute of Technology, drew over 800 participants and featured 27 speakers who explored the complexities introduced by AI-driven technologies and emphasized the need for systemic changes rather than mere technical solutions. Key discussions included the importance of operational agility in security responses, as highlighted by Joshua Peltz's aviation analogy, Paul Hill's insights into modernizing security operations through AI, and Bill Bernard's warnings about the perceived intelligence of generative AI. Sean Juroviesky stressed the significance of risk inventory and management, while the overarching theme of the conference was the necessity for adaptability in the face of rapidly evolving AI threats, advocating for structural and strategic shifts to manage risk effectively.