New Study: Business and IT professionals are worried about the exploitation of generative AI by bad actors

Author: ISACA
Date Published: 25 October 2023

London, UK—ISACA, the leading global professional association helping individuals and organisations in their pursuit of digital trust, today launches new research looking at the use, risk and impact of generative AI—artificial intelligence that can create written and visual content and other media. Out of the 334 business and IT professionals working in Europe surveyed, 99% say they are worried, to some extent, about the potential exploitation of generative AI by bad actors. Furthermore, 74% believe that cybercriminals are harnessing AI with equal or even greater success than digital trust professionals.

However, these growing fears have not translated into widespread action as only a quarter (28%) of respondents perceive AI-related risks as an immediate priority. A mere 10% of organisations have formal, comprehensive policies in place governing the use of AI technology, and 29% have no policy, and no plans to implement one at all.

"In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, AI will play a key role in transforming industries as a whole. Holistic digital trust framework implementations are a prerequisite to enjoying the benefits of AI in a more secure, privacy-friendly, ethically acceptable and risk-controlled manner," said Chris Dimitriadis, Global Chief Strategy Officer at ISACA.

Despite the clear concerns associated with AI, just 7% of organisations are providing all employees with AI training. One in ten (10%) business and IT professionals think job responsibilities within their organisations have already increased due to advancements in generative AI, and this is set to increase, as nearly 4 in 5 (79%) agree that many jobs will be modified by AI in the next 5 years. The wave of AI adoption means 81% of respondents say they will need to increase their skills and knowledge to retain their job or advance their career.

Businesses are starting to acknowledge the rise of AI, with almost one in five (19%) increasing the number of jobs for AI-related functions in the next 12 months. They’re also aware of the potential benefits it brings, with respondents feeling it will have a positive impact on their industry (60%), their organisation (54%) and their career (46%), over the next 5 years.

ISACA CEO, Erik Prusch, added: ‘Business and IT professionals are aware of the potential positive impact of AI, but to reap the benefits they must ensure the staff in their organisations are trained on how to use AI effectively and safely. By providing comprehensive training as part of an overarching AI strategy, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and ensure the safety and security of their operations while promoting long-term business success.’

Notes to Editors
All figures are based on fieldwork conducted by ISACA between 29 September and 6 October 2023, amongst a total of 334 business and IT professionals in Europe. In total, ISACA surveyed more than 2,300 business and IT professionals worldwide.

About ISACA

ISACA^® (www.isaca.org) is a global community advancing individuals and organizations in their pursuit of digital trust. For more than 50 years, ISACA has equipped individuals and enterprises with the knowledge, credentials, education, training and community to progress their careers, transform their organizations, and build a more trusted and ethical digital world. ISACA is a global professional association and learning organization that leverages the expertise of its 170,000 members who work in digital trust fields such as information security, governance, assurance, risk, privacy and quality. It has a presence in 188 countries, including 225 chapters worldwide. ISACA's member base in Europe exceeds 30,000, and the organization has further strengthened its presence in the region by establishing a regional office in Dublin, Ireland, in 2022. Through its foundation One In Tech, ISACA supports IT education and career pathways for underresourced and underrepresented populations.

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