In an age of artificial intelligence, Dennis Underwood is working it “old school.”

He is prioritizing face time.

Underwood is CEO of Cyber Crucible, a cybersecurity software company in Fox Chapel that focuses on preventing data theft, identity theft and ransomware. He said the introduction of mainstream AI in the job has changed the way his company operates. Rather than decreasing the amount of human interaction that occurs within his company, it has increased it.

The company also prioritizes personal meetings when considering a job candidate, conducting more face-to-face and video interviews, said Underwood, of Oakmont.

“Our hiring for non-national security (jobs) looks a little bit more like we are hiring for national security,” Underwood said.

According to a March report from the World Economic Forum, approximately 88% of companies already use some form of AI for initial candidate screening. In turn, about 65% of job candidates are using AI in the application process, according to the 2025 Market Trend Report from Career Group Companies, a recruitment firm.

Because his company relies on contract workers, Underwood said it has to be careful someone isn’t using AI to embellish or misrepresent their skill set. The job is fast paced and depends on problem solving, he said.

Underwood’s company uses AI outbound in its sales department. The sales team uses the technology to automate and personalize contacting potential customers, be it through email, letters or phone calls.

Systems are able to handle tasks like identifying the best client prospects, conducting client research, personalizing messaging and doing follow-ups and data analysis. This lets sales team members focus on closing deals.

“It’s like a person looking for a job, but it’s sales opportunities,” Underwood said.

AI gives his company an edge, Underwood said, but he still treats the tech like an assistant or intern that needs to be supervised.

“There’s a lot of bad AI out there, and it takes a lot of work to make it good,” Underwood said. “You always need to have a person kind of shepherding it and checking quality control.”