The Buzz: AI, Cybersecurity, and the New Risks Reshaping Supply Chain

Technology may be advancing faster than ever, but people, resilience, and smart decision-making remain at the center of supply chain success. In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Altium, Scott Luton and Maithili Shenoy are joined by cybersecurity experts Andrew Alston and Bob Carver to unpack some of the biggest issues shaping supply chain and business, from manufacturing pressures and technology talent gaps to AI-enabled cyberattacks and growing third-party risk.

The conversation begins with a look at the latest U.S. manufacturing activity, rising input costs, and the supply chain challenges surrounding the rapidly growing humanoid robotics industry. The panel also explores the widening technology skills gap and why organizations need people who can combine critical thinking with emerging AI capabilities.

Then, in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Andrew and Bob break down how AI is changing the cyber threat landscape. They discuss ransomware-as-a-service, faster exploitation of vulnerabilities, third-party exposure, governance, business continuity, and why traditional cybersecurity approaches are no longer enough. The group also explores why supply chain leaders need to think beyond their own organizations and build cyber resilience across the entire supplier ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• People remain a critical differentiator in the age of AI. Technology alone doesn't create value; organizations need people who can use it to make better decisions, manage trade-offs, and respond quickly to change.
• Manufacturers are facing significant cost and profitability pressures. Rising input costs, tariffs, labor constraints, and supplier delays are creating challenges even as manufacturing activity continues to grow.
• The humanoid robotics opportunity exposes major supply chain gaps. Actuators, semiconductors, critical minerals, and domestic manufacturing capacity could become major constraints as robotics scales.
• The technology skills gap is holding back AI, cloud, and cybersecurity initiatives. Organizations need to rethink how they develop both technical capabilities and foundational cognitive skills.
• AI is accelerating cyber threats as well as cyber defenses. Ransomware is becoming more accessible, vulnerabilities are being exploited faster, and organizations can no longer assume traditional patching and security practices will be enough.
• Cybersecurity must become an ecosystem-wide supply chain priority. Governance, business continuity, supplier vetting, redundancy, and third-party visibility are essential to keeping operations running when, not if, disruptions occur.

Supply chain leaders can't afford to treat cybersecurity, AI, talent, and resilience as separate issues. They are increasingly interconnected, and the risks extend far beyond the four walls of any single organization. Tune in to hear practical perspectives on where the biggest vulnerabilities are emerging, why third-party risk deserves greater attention, and what leaders can do now to build stronger, more resilient supply chain ecosystems.

 

Additional Links & Resources:

• Altium Develop: https://bit.ly/Try-Altium-Develop
• With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-3-Oct-2026
• Maithili’s Keynote: https://bit.ly/Maithili-Keynote
• Healthcare Supply Chain Leadership: https://bit.ly/Meena-Medler-on-SCN
• How Supply Chain Management Degree Programs are evolving: https://bit.ly/SCM-Programs-Evolving
• U.S. manufacturing data for September: https://reut.rs/4hHL06P
• Actuator shortages in U.S. robotics supply chains: https://on.mktw.net/4rPkkFS
• Tech leaders see skills gap costing businesses big time: https://bit.ly/Costly-Tech-Skills-Gap
• Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobcarver/
• Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-alston-a62990/
• Connect with Maithili on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maithili-shenoy/
• Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
• Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
• Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
• Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
• WEBINAR- The Real ROI of AI Analytics in the Supply Chain: Better Answers When Everyone Starts Asking: https://bit.ly/3TpCX6u
• WEBINAR- The Cost of Skipping the Audit: Why Site Scans Should Come Before Every Pallet, Crate, or Wood Packaging RFQ: https://bit.ly/4AJzReA
• WEBINAR- How to Stop Losing Margin After a Package Ships: https://bit.ly/4An41Ux
• WEBINAR- Rethinking the Supply Chain Management Classroom: https://bit.ly/4xJIkM2

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Maithili Shenoy, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-ai-cybersecurity-new-risks-reshaping-supply-chain-1645

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