New research shows that business leaders expect AI to work wonders within their security teams, adding to the pressure on understaffed and underskilled security professionals.
A report from IDC and Expereo found that 60% of CIOs say incorporating AI into their security strategy has improved their personal reputation. However, 47% also say their boards have unrealistic expectations of the technology.
While improving their personal reputation may be a bright spot, 39% of respondents said their higher profile made their job more stressful.
AI fear
Some companies are considering appointing a ‘Chief AI Officer’ to manage the implementation of AI technologies and the opportunities and benefits they bring. However, 40% of respondents believe that the CAIO role will gradually take over many of the CIO’s responsibilities within two years.
Another 38% fear that AI could replace their role, or a role within their team. This isn’t just true for IT roles, with 46% saying that jobs outside of IT are at risk of being replaced by automation.
“Technology leaders are at the forefront of driving innovation and transformation in their organizations, but they also face significant challenges and pressure from the business and board level,” said Ben Elms, CEO of Expereo.
“It is critical that CIOs work with their CEOs to ensure they have the right support from their stakeholders, teams and external partners to help them get the most out of a challenging but exciting technology landscape.”
AI presents positive opportunities and business leaders remain optimistic about the future of technology. 68% of business leaders said this is the most exciting time to be in their role, while a further 71% believe their current technology strategy will support growth and efficiency gains.
But with these opportunities, the role of technology leaders is expected to expand to include more responsibilities within businesses, such as orchestrating digital transformation and discovering ways to generate digital revenue to justify ROI for budget increases. The report also found that currently only 7% of respondents have to justify the ROI on budget increases, but this is expected to rise to 12% within two years.