A Historical Perspective: How Technology Has Traditionally Elevated the Workforce
Throughout history, technological advancements have reshaped industries, often replacing the dull, dirty, and dangerous jobs that were once performed by human hands. The industrial revolution mechanized farming, removing the need for back-breaking labor in the fields. The advent of electricity and automation phased out factory jobs that involved hazardous, repetitive, and unskilled work. Today, artificial intelligence and robotics are poised to do the same for security—not by replacing security professionals, but by enhancing their capabilities and creating new, higher-skilled opportunities.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2025) highlights this ongoing shift. While automation and AI are transforming industries, they are also creating demand for skilled labor in areas like robotics management, data analysis, and cybersecurity. The Contract Security Industry 2024 Review & 2025 Outlook further supports this trend, noting that while the security industry is growing, it is struggling with labor shortages, increasing costs, and a demand for higher efficiency.
At the same time, AI and automation are now seen as more than just productivity tools—they are becoming strategic assets for national security and economic stability. The recent push for massive AI infrastructure investments, such as the $500 billion Stargate Project, reflects the growing recognition that nations and enterprises that lead in AI and robotics will dominate the future of security and defense.
The Challenges Facing the Security Industry Today
Security professionals have long been tasked with round-the-clock surveillance, monotonous patrols, and high-risk responses. Many security jobs involve extensive walking, harsh environmental conditions, and extended exposure to potential threats. The challenge? Filling these roles is getting harder.
According to industry reports:
- 63% of security firms report staffing shortages.
- Security guard turnover rates exceed 100% in many cases.
- The demand for security services is increasing, while the available workforce is shrinking.
This reality means security departments are searching for ways to increase coverage, enhance safety, and improve efficiency—without simply hiring more guards. That’s where robotics and AI-driven automation step in.
Enter Robotics and AI: The Evolution of Security Work
Just as factories embraced robotic arms to increase precision and reduce workplace injuries, security is now undergoing its own transformation. AI-powered security solutions like automated drones and robots are becoming a force multiplier—handling the repetitive, dangerous tasks that drain human resources while exposing security teams to unnecessary risks.
Solutions like DroneDog and Guardian, developed by Asylon, and solutions by other innovators, are reshaping security by offering:
✅ Automated patrolling: No fatigue, no missed routes, and 24/7 ready response.
✅ AI-driven threat detection: Recognizing anomalies and escalating threats faster than human response teams.
✅ Seamless integration with existing security operations: Acting as a real-time intelligence feed rather than a replacement for security personnel.
These robotic solutions excel in environments where traditional security methods struggle:
- Remote or hazardous locations: Border security, industrial sites, and power plants where human presence is costly and dangerous.
- Large-scale facilities: Data centers, corporate campuses, and logistics hubs where perimeter security must be constant and proactive.
- Emergency response: First on the scene in a crisis, sending real-time data to human security teams for faster, safer intervention.
AI Skepticism & The Reality of Workforce Transformation
There is a strong narrative around AI replacing jobs, but history tells us otherwise. A recent narrative from Zvi Mowshowitz’s Substack titled “Stargate AI-1” highlights the disconnect between AI investment and job creation, reinforcing the need for practical, scalable AI solutions—not hype. AI will not replace security professionals—but it will redefine what security jobs look like.
Critics often worry that automation leads to job displacement, but history shows a more nuanced reality. The introduction of ATMs did lead to a reduction in teller roles, but it also allowed banks to expand their branch networks at a lower cost, creating new opportunities in customer service, financial advising, and relationship management. Similarly, autonomous vehicle technology has not eliminated the need for logistics professionals—it has freed them from repetitive tasks, enabling them to focus on higher-value activities like supply chain optimization, fleet management, and strategic planning, ultimately making operations more efficient and scalable.
In security, AI and robotics will do the same. Instead of walking endless, repetitive patrols, security professionals will shift toward managing automated systems, analyzing data, and making critical decisions based on AI-driven insights.
New roles will emerge, such as: (1) Robotic Security Operators – Overseeing fleets of security robots from centralized operations centers. (2) AI Security Analysts – Using AI-driven threat detection data to predict and prevent security breaches before they happen. (3) Autonomous System Technicians – Maintaining and optimizing robotic security assets for peak efficiency.
This evolution not only reduces workplace risks but also creates more engaging, technology-driven careers that attract a higher-skilled, better-paid workforce.
Security Automation as a National Strategic Asset
Beyond commercial applications, AI-powered security is becoming a national priority. Large-scale investments in AI infrastructure, such as the Stargate Project, signal that AI-driven security solutions will play a key role in the future of national defense, critical infrastructure protection, and economic stability.
Asylon’s U.S.-made solutions like DroneDog and Guardian are uniquely positioned to support this shift, ensuring that AI-driven security automation remains both highly capable and compliant with U.S. regulations and cybersecurity standards.
The Future of Security: A Partnership Between Humans and Machines
The reality is that AI and robotics are not replacing security jobs—they are transforming them into smarter, safer, and more skilled professions.
As industries continue to embrace automation for efficiency and safety, security teams must also evolve. Security firms that integrate autonomous robotics and AI analytics into their operations will have the competitive advantage—delivering better protection while optimizing workforce resources.
For security professionals, the message is clear: The future is not about competition with robots—it is about collaboration. The industry’s best security teams will be those that learn to leverage technology as a tool, not a threat.
Security is evolving. The question is: Will you evolve with it?