At Cal State San Bernardino, the future isn’t a mystery to unravel — it’s a horizon to prepare for. That’s the idea behind AI Horizon, a groundbreaking, National Science Foundation-funded initiative led by Vincent Nestler, director of the university’s Center for Cyber and AI.

AI Horizon is more than just a research project; it’s a tool designed to forecast what lies ahead in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity job market.

“The concept of a horizon is the line between what you can see and what you can’t,” Nestler said of the project name. “We’re trying to figure out what’s beyond that line — because it impacts everybody, especially our students.”

The initiative brings together forecasting and programming committees supported by custom-built AI engines that scan and analyze hundreds of articles and industry signals. The goal? To determine which jobs are disappearing, which ones are evolving to require AI skills, which new careers are emerging, and which skill sets are likely to remain uniquely human.

“This isn’t just about cybersecurity,” Nestler said. “Every single discipline, every single subject has to figure out how AI interplays with what they do — or what the student graduating is expected to do. If we don’t completely revamp the curriculum, top to bottom, we risk preparing students for a future that doesn’t exist.”

Vincent Nestler (center) with cybersecurity students
Vincent Nestler (center) with cybersecurity students

With his AI Horizon portal still under development, Nestler has already built a working prototype that categorizes labor trends and maps out the implications for higher education. It will be designed to be accessible to cybersecurity faculty and students alike, offering real-time insight into how AI is transforming industries from finance to healthcare.

One key tool on the platform analyzes how various professions are adapting to AI, providing urgency scores and curated resources for upskilling. For example, if AI is increasingly used in penetration testing — a key area in cybersecurity — the platform will suggest courses, videos and hands-on projects aligned with that skill. Nestler says this is called “vibe coding,” where natural language (i.e. conversational language) is used to direct AI to build entire workflows, apps or programs without needing to write a single line of code.

“I built this whole thing in two weeks, and I didn’t code a single character. Although the prototype is functional, I will have to have a real programmer ‘clean’ it up and make sure it is secure. But what would have taken weeks or months can be done in days or hours,” Nestler said. “This is the kind of capability AI unlocks. The canvas is different now. The paint strokes are different. And that means we have to teach students how to speak the language of the machine.”

Nestler emphasized that AI isn’t just about replacing jobs — it’s redefining what it means to be hirable. He points to a memo from Shopify, a $130 billion tech company, where all employees are now expected to demonstrate AI fluency as part of their performance reviews. Before new hires are approved, managers must justify why AI can’t do the work instead.

“The definition of hirable will be: what can you do that AI cannot?” Nestler said. “That’s a serious shift. And we want to make sure our students are not blindsided when they graduate.”

One of the project’s long-term goals is to make these insights actionable through ready-made learning modules. Cybersecurity faculty will be able to assign students to watch videos, complete projects, and develop AI competencies — regardless of how quickly individual programs or instructors adapt.

“Even if your professor isn’t ready to teach you about AI, it doesn’t matter. While unfortunate, you don’t have to wait for them,” said Nestler. “This platform will help students figure out where the workforce is headed and give them the tools to keep up.”

Nestler’s vision is bold, but grounded: empower students to understand AI, use it ethically, and work with it creatively. Through the AI Horizon project, he and the Center for Cyber and AI are  taking a proactive step to ensure CSUSB students are ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.

“We’re not just watching the future happen,” Nestler said. “We’re trying to meet it halfway. And that’s what the AI Horizon project is all about.”