CISOs Express Caution Despite CEO Enthusiasm for Generative AI
New research from NTT DATA highlights a clear disconnect between C-Suite leaders on the adoption of generative AI. The report, based on a survey of over 2,300 senior AI decision makers—including 1,500 C-Suite executives across 34 countries—shows strong CEO optimism contrasted with CISO caution.
Almost all C-Suite executives (99%) plan to increase investments in generative AI over the next two years. Specifically, 67% of CEOs intend to make significant commitments. Meanwhile, 95% of CIOs and CTOs acknowledge that generative AI has driven or will drive greater cybersecurity investments, ranking security improvements among the top three benefits realized in the past year.
Worrying Gap Between Strategy and Execution
Despite this positive outlook, nearly half of CISOs (45%) hold negative views about generative AI adoption. A majority (54%) of CISOs report unclear internal guidelines or policies on generative AI responsibility, yet only 20% of CEOs share this concern. This reveals a sharp gap in executive alignment over generative AI governance.
Even security leaders with reservations recognize the potential business value: 81% of CISOs with negative sentiments still agree that generative AI can improve efficiency and boost the bottom line. However, 69% admit their teams lack the skills needed to work effectively with generative AI technologies.
Alignment and Policy Challenges
Only 38% of CISOs say their generative AI and cybersecurity strategies are aligned, compared to 51% of CEOs. Furthermore, 72% of organizations surveyed lack a formal generative AI usage policy. Just 24% of CISOs strongly agree that their organization has a framework that balances risk with value.
Legacy IT infrastructure remains a major hurdle. Around 88% of security leaders say outdated systems hamper business agility and readiness for generative AI. Upgrading IoT, 5G, and edge computing infrastructure is seen as essential for progress.
Security Teams Favor Partnership Over Standalone Solutions
To bridge these gaps, 64% of CISOs prioritize co-innovation with strategic IT partners rather than relying on standalone AI products. When choosing generative AI technology partners, security leaders emphasize the importance of end-to-end service offerings.
Embedding cybersecurity from the start of generative AI initiatives is critical. CEOs may drive innovation, but aligning cybersecurity with business strategy is necessary to reduce risks and ensure resilience.
- Key takeaways for executives:
- Recognize the disconnect between CEO ambition and CISO caution.
- Clarify internal generative AI policies and responsibilities.
- Invest in upskilling security teams on generative AI capabilities.
- Modernize legacy infrastructure to support AI readiness.
- Foster collaboration between cybersecurity and business units.
- Partner with IT providers offering comprehensive generative AI services.
For executives seeking to deepen their understanding of AI and security integration, exploring targeted training options can be valuable. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses offer practical insights into managing AI technologies securely and strategically.
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