Your Job Could Be Replaced by AI Sooner Than You Think

Trend Micro has urged businesses and individuals to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures as AI-powered threats continue to escalate. This call was made during DECODE 2025: Maximize Momentum, the company’s annual free cybersecurity conference held in Manila on September 12, which drew over 600 professionals and featured more than 22 expert-led sessions.

Alma Saturnino-Alvarez, Trend Micro’s Director for Threat Research and founder of DECODE, said this year’s event emphasized the urgent need for vigilance as generative AI tools fuel deepfakes, advanced scams, and other cyber risks. “Through DECODE, we share our research so that businesses and individuals alike can learn how to best protect themselves,” she explained.

Keynote speaker David Sancho, Senior Threat Researcher at Trend Micro, warned of three major risks from AI reliance: skill erosion, job displacement, and, most critically, the erosion of trust. He stressed that manipulated media and AI-generated content make it increasingly difficult for the public to separate fact from fiction, amplifying the danger of disinformation.

The conference also highlighted how the Philippine Army is adapting to cyber warfare. LtCol. Rod Quinto outlined a shift from simple defense to resilience, anchored on proactive preparation, actionable intelligence, and strategic response planning. He underscored that combating cybercrime requires unity across public and private sectors, noting that “cyber resilience isn’t about preventing every attack — it’s about maintaining mission effectiveness despite the attack.”

Experts concluded that while new technologies and countermeasures are essential, education and knowledge-sharing remain the most powerful defenses. Through DECODE and similar initiatives, Trend Micro continues its mission to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and readiness in an AI-driven world. For free resources and information, visit www.trendmicro.com.