The Year of the Agent: AI, Bug Bounties, and Cybersecurity Insights with Marco Figueroa

Hacker Valley Studio

How will AI redefine cybersecurity in 2025? According to Marco Figueroa, Program Manager for Gen AI at the ODIN Bug Bounty Program, this year is set to be the "Year of the Agent," where AI systems and integrations take a central role.

In this special New Year bonus episode, Ron sits down with Marco to discuss the transformative role of AI in solving cybersecurity challenges. Marco breaks down AI jailbreak techniques, the impact of bug bounty programs on securing AI systems, and why 2025’s fast-evolving tech landscape demands creative thinking. Learn how tools like ChatGPT and Gemini 2.0 are reshaping the industry and why staying adaptable is essential.

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

02:14 - Speed vs. safety: AI system challenges

05:30 - Why experience matters more than information

07:45 - Legal stakes for deepfakes and AI

18:36 - Marco’s creative journey in cybersecurity

28:00 - Jailbreaks: Risks and surprising AI findings

37:13 - 2025 predictions: The rise of agents

41:00 - Closing thoughts and the power of community

Links:

Connect with our guest, Marco Figueroa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/

Chuck Brooks' 2025 Cybersecurity Predictions article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2024/12/24/cybersecurity-trends-and-priorities-to-watch-for-2025/

Focus Areas for the FaccT Conference News: https://facctconference.org/2025/focusareas

“Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573

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