At the Innovations United Festival held in the prestigious Martinic Palace at Prague Castle, Petr Somol brought the audience into the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity and AI. As AI Research Director at Gen (with trusted brands like Avast, AVG and Norton), he outlined the profound transformation underway: the shift from traditional cybersecurity to human-focused digital safety.
Key Themes & Insights
- The Rise of Human-Centric Attacks
AI has enabled a new era of cyber threats. Where malware once attacked systems, today’s scams target people’s emotions and vulnerabilities. AI-generated scams are becoming indistinguishable from real communication. One terrifying example: an AI-generated voice scam where a fake grandchild asks for money. - Digital Safety vs. Cybersecurity
Traditional security tools protect devices. Petr argues that the next generation must protect people. Gen is pivoting to this model through tools like Norton Genie, which allows users to report suspicious interactions via screenshots. These are processed using AI, OCR, and layout analysis to detect fraudulent intent. - The Mobile Security Gap
Unlike desktop systems where antivirus tools have deep access, mobile platforms (especially iOS) block third-party security tools from accessing apps like Facebook or browsers. Genie circumvents this by analyzing screenshots provided by users, effectively crowd-sourcing threat intelligence. - Fast Prototyping, Lean Innovation
The Genie app was built from idea to first working version in three months, with a 30-person team. Petr emphasized the importance of moving quickly in the face of fast-evolving threats, leveraging user feedback and AI-driven data to iterate. - The Importance of Trust and Explainability
Users distrust “black box” AI systems. Gen has focused on explainable AI, ensuring that threat assessments are understandable to users. The goal: empower people to act on insights with confidence. - Global Threat Intelligence at Work
Gen uses a combination of internal telemetry, open data, and crowd-sourced reports to detect patterns in scams worldwide. It allows real-time detection and intervention, especially for fast-spreading mobile scams.
Quotes from the Stage
- “We’re moving from cybersecurity to digital safety. The battlefield is no longer just technical – it’s emotional, psychological, and social.”
- “Attackers evolve quickly. We need to move faster, with smarter tools and a human-first mindset.”
- “You can’t protect people with systems built for desktops in 2005. The rules have changed.”
Conclusion
Petr Somol’s keynote painted a compelling picture of what digital defense looks like in 2025: proactive, AI-powered, and focused not just on stopping threats, but on supporting human safety in every interaction. Gen is proving that even in cybersecurity, innovation must evolve with empathy, adaptability, and speed.
