Of more immediate concern for companies is what the growth of AI and machine learning will mean for cybersecurity. Some commentators have suggested AI can solvethe cybersecurity problem once and for all, by giving businesses the tools to make their IT networks un-hackable. I think this is overly optimistic for the simple reason that both sides of the cybersecurity struggle – corporate SecOpsteams and the cybercriminals trying to breach their defences – ultimately have access to the same technology. AI is certainly accelerating advances in cybersecurity but its an arms race that looks set to continue – and escalate – indefinitely.  

Cybersecurity is just one of a range of issues that highlight an important truth about AI for business: it is creating challenges as well as opportunities. One example is the way in which AI algorithms can unintentionally inherit the biases of the humans who created them. Another is AI explainability, which is the question of what happens when an algorithm becomes so complex that no one – not even its programmers – can fully explain how or why it has reached a particular output or decision. 

An even bigger challenge for companies that are relatively new to the possibilities of AI is the conundrum of when and how to get involved in the first place. This can lead to a kind of paralysis, in which companies endlessly wait to see how a new technology will develop. Their caution is understandable. However, when youre dealing with a rapidly evolving new technology, waiting until tomorrow is nearly always a mistake. Thats why it is vital for every business to start grappling with the challenges and opportunities of AI today – otherwise they will simply never catch up.