NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 5, 2026--
Hack The Box (HTB), the global leader in AI-powered cybersecurity readiness, today released findings from its AI-Augmented vs Human-Only Cybersecurity Performance Benchmark Report, which includes data from its NeuroGrid Capture The Flag (CTF) competition, the largest side-by-side benchmark of agentic AI and human performance on cybersecurity tasks to date.
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The results demonstrate that AI levels the playing field and accelerates performance, depending on the skills of the AI-augmented teams, which:
The benchmark analyzed performance data from 1,078 teams, including 120 agentic AI teams and 958 human teams, across 36 cybersecurity challenges spanning nine technical domains and four difficulty levels during a three-day competition.
“AI can raise the bar of cybersecurity performance, but it does not eliminate the need for human expertise,” said Haris Pylarinos, Founder and CEO of Hack The Box. “Our findings show measurable productivity gains, but also predictable failure patterns. Security leaders must build and test human-in-the-loop workflows that are proven under pressure, and develop the AI and cybersecurity skills needed to unlock benefits safely as models evolve.”
How AI Impacts Performance by Experience Level
The findings showed that AI requires a targeted workforce development strategy, as it impacts less-experienced to elite operators in fundamentally different ways. Results include:
“Routine and mid-level work is where enterprises will see immediate ROI,” said Gibb Witham, President of Hack The Box. “If organizations over-index on automating the tasks that build judgment, they risk trading long-term resilience for short-term efficiency. Agentic automation must be paired with deliberate human skill development. For enterprises, the competitive advantage will not come from AI adoption alone. It will come from training cybersecurity professionals to effectively orchestrate, validate, and govern AI-driven workflows and agents.”
The data reveals that AI’s strongest impact occurs in medium-complexity work (3.89x), the very layer where mid-level cybersecurity talent traditionally develops the judgment needed to become security practitioners. Medium-tier challenges showed the highest solve-rate ratios for AI-augmented teams. These are the problems that build experience and pattern recognition in developing analysts. If AI absorbs this layer without structured upskilling and deliberate exposure to increasingly complex scenarios, organizations risk hollowing out the very pipeline that produces future senior experts.
Human-AI Hybrid Models Win
The findings show how AI-augmented teams, often operating with human-in-the-loop, raised baseline performance across the field, yet the hardest and most novel challenges still demanded human judgment and verification. For CEOs and CISOs, the takeaway is clear: use AI to amplify human capability with oversight, not replace it.
Hack The Box will present a deeper analysis of its research at RSAC 2026 on March 26, 2026, in the Village showcase.
Learn more about the AI-Augmented vs Human-Only Cybersecurity Performance Benchmark Report and CISO briefing here.
About Hack The Box
Hack The Box is the leading cyber readiness platform for the agentic era, battle-testing and upskilling both humans and AI agents to enhance organizational cyber resilience. Trusted by the Fortune 500, government agencies, and MSSPs, the platform delivers threat-informed learning paths consisting of real-world scenarios in gamified labs and live-fire simulations that build and validate offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. With a loyal community of more than 4 million members and 800+ enterprise customers, Hack The Box empowers teams and intelligent systems alike to strengthen cyber defenses and reduce breach risk effectively. For more information, visit hackthebox.com.
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Hack The Box Benchmark Report Finds AI Boosts Cybersecurity Productivity 3-4x for AI-Augmented Elite Teams, but Cautions on a Talent Pipeline Risk
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Teyana Taylor fought back tears Sunday after an emotional surprise at the BET Awards:Janet Jackson walked onto the stage to present Taylor with the Icon of the Year Award.
Taylor, visibly stunned as Jackson received a standing ovation at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater, embraced the music legend before thanking one of her biggest inspirations.
“They did not tell me Janet was coming,” Taylor said through tears. “There will be no me without you.”
Presenting the award, Jackson praised Taylor’s relentless work ethic and artistic range, highlighting her Golden Globe win for best supporting actress in “One Battle After Another” and calling her gifts “God-given.”
The Icon of the Year Award recognizes a creative force whose influence is shaping culture. Taylor has evolved from a multiplatinum recording artist into an award-winning actor, director, producer and choreographer.
Accepting the honor, Taylor reflected on her two-decade career.
“I worked my (expletives) off 20 years,” she said. “So I’m not accepting what I’ve earned with arrogance. I’m accepting what I’ve earned with gratitude.”
The BET Awards paused to honor influential figures from music and entertainment who died over the past year during an emotional in memoriam tribute.
Erica Campbell of Mary Mary introduced the segment by reflecting on the enduring legacies left behind by those who died, paying special tribute to the late gospel composer Richard Smallwood, whose music she said strengthened her faith. She also remembered the late music executive Clive Davis, who died earlier this week at 94, before performing Whitney Houston’s “I Love the Lord” with Le’Andria Johnson.
The tribute remembered Smallwood, Davis, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and others whose contributions left a lasting mark on music, television and culture.
The show also celebrated the late D’Angelo’s legacy with a star-studded tribute that opened with appearances by his three children.
Ari Lennox, BJ the Chicago Kid, Durand Bernarr, George Clinton and RAYE were among the artists who honored the singer with performances of his music, celebrating the enduring influence of one of R&B’s most acclaimed voices.
Music executive Sylvia Rhone received the BET Ultimate Icon Award in recognition of her groundbreaking leadership and lasting impact on the music industry.
Presented by Kelly Rowland, the honor celebrated Rhone’s trailblazing career as the first Black woman to lead a major record company owned by a Fortune 500 corporation. A video tribute featured messages from artists including Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes, highlighting her role in helping develop the careers of performers such as Tracy Chapman, Brandy, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, Future, Travis Scott and Tyler, the Creator.
While accepting the award, Rhone dedicated the honor to the artists and creative teams she has worked alongside throughout her career.
“Tonight’s honor bears my name, but it really belongs to all of us who create culture,” she said.
Rhone also used the moment to urge the music industry to protect artists as artificial intelligence reshapes the business.
“We make the algorithm. The algorithm doesn’t make us,” she said. “We must honor the musician. We must compensate the creator.”
She concluded by calling on the industry to ensure the next generation of artists has the opportunity to create “the songs that will change the world.”
Druski made a grand entrance to kick off the BET Awards on Sunday, descending from the rafters in a harness as a choir filled the theater with a rendition of Kirk Franklin’s “Revolution,” setting the tone for a night celebrating music, comedy and culture.
The comedian and digital creator made history by becoming the youngest host of the ceremony.The show's opening performances featured Kehlani, who sang “Folded” with Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Anelise Estelle Foxx, on guitar. Don Toliver also performed his hits “E85” and “Body.”
Accepting the award for best female R&B/pop artist, Kehlani admitted she hadn’t prepared a speech, instead marveling that “Janet Jackson is here,” before telling the icon she was “really honored to be here” among the night’s talent.
Druski, 31, surpassed Kevin Hart, who previously held the distinction as the BET Award’s youngest host when he emceed in 2011.
Throughout the night, Druski leaned into his comedic persona with appearances alongside Martin Lawrence and Latto. Lawrence jokingly shut down Druski’s pitch to appear in the next “Bad Boys” film before teasing his upcoming Paramount+ series, while Latto playfully poked fun at the host during one of the show’s transitions. Druski also spoofed Jay-Z's Roots Picnic freestyle.
Druski became one of entertainment’s fastest-rising stars through his viral sketches before expanding into sold-out comedy tours and collaborations with artists including Drake and Snoop Dogg, as well as appearances alongside figures like Tom Brady and Timothée Chalamet.
Hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte returned as the show’s announcer.
Hill will receive the Living Legend Icon Award, which recognizes pioneers whose work has remained culturally essential across generations. She first emerged as a member of the Fugees before releasing her landmark solo debut, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” a genre-defying album that became one of the most influential recordings in hip-hop and R&B history.
BET called Hill “the very definition of a living legend,” crediting her with reshaping music while inspiring generations of artists.
The awards will feature the Pulse Award for creator and content series and the Fashion Vanguard Award for cultural impact in fashion.
Common, left, and Queen Latifah perform during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Host Druski appears during the opening of the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Teyana Taylor accepts the Icon of the Year award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lauryn Hill accepts the living legend icon award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lauryn Hill accepts the living legend icon award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lauryn Hill perform during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Sylvia Rhone accepts the ultimate icon award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Teyana Taylor accepts the Icon of the Year award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Teyana Taylor appears onstage to accept the Icon of the Year award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Teyana Taylor, left, accepts the Icon of the Year award from presenter Janet Jackson during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Teyana Taylor accepts the Icon of the Year award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Anelise Bishop, left, and Jamie Foxx perform during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kehlani performs during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Host Druski appears during the opening of the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Host Druski speaks during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher)
FILE - Teyana Taylor arrives at Billboard's Women in Music event, April 29, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
FILE - Druski appears at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J., on Aug. 28, 2022. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Teyana Taylor appears at the CCA's 8th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, 2025, left, and Lauryn Hill performs at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on June 30, 2023. (AP Photo)
FILE - Cardi B performs during the Global Citizen Festival in New York on Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
