AI will continue to dominate technology news for 2024 with industry leaders from the enterprise security segment naming AI security as a top concern, according to a recent study by the Security Industry Association (SIA). AI security encompasses cybersecurity practices for the protection of data, IP, and corporate integrity as AI is adopted by businesses of all sizes.
The 2024 report, which surveyed hundreds of security industry business leaders, revealed that there is no trend larger or more impactful to the security industry than artificial intelligence (AI). The trend is so prevalent and multifaceted, however, that it is split into four components.
Topping the list was security of AI, which refers to the cybersecurity practices for the protection of data, IP, and corporate integrity with the adoption of AI into businesses of all sizes. Under this were three defining concerns: trust in AI, ethical application of AI and cybersecurity of AI. The National Security Agency (NSA), UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-UK), the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other partners released a Guidelines for Secure AI System Development information sheet ijn November.
The four overall concerns about AI, ranked in order were:
- Security of AI
- Adoption of AI-infused digital cameras
- Generative AI
- AI regulation
“Ninety-three percent said they expected to see generative artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT make an impact upon their business strategies within the next 5 years, and over 89% said that they had AI projects active in their research and development (R&D) pipelines,” according to the report.
Key stats highlighted in the report include:
- 54% of security technology firms said their public perception of some AI technologies (e.g., facial recognition) was limiting their further expansion into AI applications
- 33% of surveyed SIA members expect sustainability initiatives to make a strong impact on their business or product strategies within the next five years
- 78 million security cameras were shipped globally in 2022
- 74% of surveyed security solutions developers characterized their firms’ R&D investments as being fully, heavily or somewhat focused on AI
AI is being utilized in nearly every industry, including AI financial services, manufacturing, agriculture, law, education, IT service management and cybersecurity and marketing.
While companies of all sizes continue to adopt AI, staying current with AI developments is an ongoing process and barriers to AI adoption keep companies from deploying the technology as fast as they would like.
In fact, a survey of 120 U.S. senior AI/machine learning decision makers, conducted in late 2023 by research and media firm Foundry and technology consulting firm Searce, showed that less than 40% of organizations have successfully deployed an AI project.
