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How to get better returns on business tech investments

  • min read
    • In a tech store, it's tempting to convince yourself you need the latest shiny gadget. That device upgrade will radically improve your productivity. You leave with a bag of stylish little boxes and a dented credit card. Enterprise tech decision-makers also struggle with these magpie-like impulses. Recent research found GE, Ford and other major players poured 1.3 trillion US dollars into digital transformation. 70 percent of it – $900 billion – went into failed programs. That's quite some buyer's remorse. Businesses know they need tech for competitive advantage – but which tech? And when they've got it, how do they use it effectively? In our podcast Insight Story, Olivier Blanchard, Research Director for future analysts The Futurum Group, and Arun Narayanan, Chief Digital Officer at renewable energy service providers RES, share how business leaders can ensure best bang for their new tech buck. Every enterprise is different Olivier says there's no one-size-fits-all approach to getting better tech returns. "A major mistake is picking tools because other companies are using them. A solution might be good for your problem but might not suit your company's technical capabilities and cultural processes." Instead, he suggests figuring out what you need the technology to achieve. "Understand your problems and look for the best solution to help them." Arun, who has overseen digital transformation in several big mining and oil and gas companies, echoes Olivier's belief in starting in the right place. "Don't rush around trying to work out what a technology can do for you. Instead, think about how you want to change your business. Do you want to delight customers in new ways? Make employees safer and more productive? Get better returns for investors? Imagine the business processes, then find the technology to make them work." He gives an example from sectors he's worked in – oil and gas, mining and renewable energy. "What they have in common is the work is in remote places. They now have remote operations centers giving information on screen to those who can do the work but can't spend days to weeks away." But the aim isn't to replace those working on-site. "Successful digital transformation will balance what's operationally correct at a site and what a remote center can know and understand. You can't take all control away from operations, nor can those making minute-to-minute decisions on site examine long-term trends and patterns." Evolution or revolution? Olivier thinks senior leadership can contribute to improved returns by appreciating the size of change possible. "If you want to become more competitive within your existing understanding of your company, then it's about finding problem areas to optimize." Arun suggests one place to start. "You're spending a lot of money on this, so find the waste. For example, if you don't know where the oil is and you're drilling in the wrong location. The business question is, how do we drill more in the right place?" The answer isn't always high-tech. "Once you understand the business question, you'll know what technology to find. If software from the 1990s can solve your problem beautifully, use that. Or if you find nothing available, technology like AI might solve it." Getting the people on side Failing to bring your people along on the tech journey can be expensive. Many fear technology will replace them, with Elon Musk saying there'll be no jobs for people in the future. How can leaders ensure people understand tech is there to help, not put them out of work? Arun says, "When calculators came out, they didn't replace accountants – but they let them do a better job, faster. Generative AI solutions like chatbots and document generators are tools – they aim to do the mundane piece fast, then the artistic, skillful and human piece can follow." Arun has had much experience getting people on board with tech integration in industrial settings. "Technology change will create many new jobs. The economic models will change, jobs will be created and lost." "We'll still need project managers, HR and people who can communicate. You don't need to be a technical expert to take part in the transformation." Olivier highlights that cost savings can flow from upskilling employees. "It's easier for someone to learn a new skill than learn everything about a company from scratch. Focusing on employee retention and development rather than letting workers fall by the wayside makes good financial sense." Cybersecurity education's role in new tech adoption Dr. Amin Hasbini, Head of Research Center Middle East, Turkey and Africa for Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT,) thinks successful tech adoption means getting everyone up to speed on cybersecurity. But many companies aren't yet doing it. Amin says, "A recent Kaspersky and Longitude study found organizations that emphasize cybersecurity training have 25 percent more readiness for dealing with security incidents from employees." The most effective forms of cybersecurity education are generally immersive. Amin says, "Gaming and VR are great for security training because they allow better engagement and learning. Gamification and competition challenges improve managers and director safeguarding decisions." Some approaches are even more immersive. "The most successful involve simulating a real attack on the organization when only a few people in top management know it's a simulation. They test employee capacity and how well teams cooperate to contain and close down an incident." Training must go beyond the IT team. "Security everyone's job, from desk employees in a remote office to top managers. If everyone is aware, it stops incidents getting big." How much risk is right? Arun says businesses must accept that in making room for success, some initiatives will fail. "If you're reimagining with a bold vision, you're guessing about the future. Some guesses will come true – others won't. If your structure has no room for failure, you sell out the opportunity for innovation." He says one way is to make a few calculated smaller bets rather than one big bet. Even if some fail, it's better than not taking those risks. Olivier points to lower-risk ways to trial solutions. "You don't have to buy all your technology anymore. With cloud services and managed services, fantastic industry partners can help you test, implement or scale up new tech. There's a giant menu of opportunities to get expert help." With enterprises finding many tech investments don't pay off, there's much potential for competitive advantage in smarter exploration of new tech options. Business leaders may find more implementations succeed if they start with the right problems and upskill their people as part of the transformation.
a robot-computer with his eyes like projectors, the robot looks like a huge computer with 'on' button and calculations, a scientist stands by the robot

Quantum computing: Is it time for your business to get involved?

  • min read
    • In Douglas Adams' 1979 science fiction comedy novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a supercomputer called Deep Thought takes 7.5 million years to answer the question, "What is the meaning of life?" Unlike Adams' monolithic supercomputer, quantum computers will be like today's fiber broadband compared to 1990s dial-up internet. Google's quantum computer can perform a calculation 158 million times faster than classical computers. Quantum computing's sped-up computations could reshape nearly every industry. But it also has strange quirks that make it hard to use in ways that beat classical computer abilities. At least, that's how things are today. Businesses that value innovation are throwing their hat in the quantum ring to ensure they're ready for sweeping change. Should your business get involved – and if so, how? In Insight Story Season 2 Episode 3, I discuss quantum computing's relevance to business with Dr. Oliver Thomson Brown (UK,) Chancellor's Fellow at EPCC (formerly Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre,) University of Edinburgh and Dr. Henning Soller (Germany,) Partner and Director of Quantum Research, McKinsey & Company. What is quantum computing? Quantum computers are the next step up from the powerful supercomputers that often power AI applications today. They'll be part of our computing future but have a starting role today. Quantum and classical computers are very different beasts – in fact, they can't even communicate with one another. Quantum data is different, too – for example, you can't copy it. Some quantum computers must be kept at very low temperatures in purpose-built fridges. These features may not sound encouraging, but quantum computers have potential to do some things much better and faster. These abilities could be game-changing in many sectors, including finance, chemicals and logistics. How could business use quantum computing? Despite quantum computers currently being about as sophisticated as the classical computers of the mid-20th century, business is interested. Henning advises companies throughout Europe and the Middle East on large-scale IT and data transformations. He's confident quantum's impact will be huge. "We haven't yet proven a case where quantum computers outperform classical computers, but we're certain this technology will be the major disruption for the business in the coming decade. We estimate economic potential of at least several trillion US dollars." Oliver's research focuses on the interaction of quantum and high-performance computing. He says quantum could help with problems where the solution is a sequence of binary numbers. "That might include logistical problems around deciding where things go. For example, how do you fill beds in a hospital ward? Or flow- or network-type problems, like traffic management. Quantum computers may also have advantages when finding the best configuration for a molecule, like in drug discovery." Quantum might also work well for problems that scale poorly on classical computers. "We're looking at problems in aviation and genomics. Genome assembly scales factorially – with a quantum computer, we may be able to reduce that by a lot." Henning adds, "We could use it for experiments that we need humans or animals for today. We could test chemicals much faster and transact money in different but completely secure ways. Some banks are using it for derivative pricing and Monte Carlo simulations." It's something of a hammer looking for a nail, he says. "It's not about having an advantage today, but being able to exploit the advantage tomorrow." Quantum challenges Oliver says, "Adoption will be driven by how easy they are to use." But today, quantum computers aren't easy to use. "You have qubits, and multiple qubits form a register. Then you set up quantum gates in a circuit that apply to that qubit register and transform it – hopefully – into a state representing the solution to your problem." If you didn't understand that, don't worry – classical computers don't get it either. That's one of the biggest challenges that must be overcome for quantum to go mainstream, says Oliver. "You have results stored as quantum information on qubits in your qubit register, but you can't read that out directly into a classical computer. So what do you do with it?" And that's not all. "You can't copy quantum information. That's great for security but terrible for computing," says Oliver. With technology this imperfect – and let's face it, confusing to anyone without a computer science PhD – the business benefits are less obvious. Henning suggests looking at the bigger picture. "There is value in investing in quantum computing already, but not in profit and loss terms." Is quantum a security threat? A 2022 study claimed that it will soon be possible to crack the most established crypto algorithm by combining classical and quantum computing. It comes down to the role giant prime numbers play in encryption. Oliver says, "The first big quantum computing application was for factoring large prime numbers. It has no practical use except that we use large prime numbers for encryption. But security people now know it's not a good base for security, and they're looking at alternatives. It must be something quantum computers are bad at." Dr. Amin Hasbini, Head of Research Centre Middle East, Turkey and Africa for Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team agrees the cybersecurity industry is one step ahead. "Quantum computing will also make encrypted data harder to hack, but hackers will find ways to adapt as they always have." Henning sees the need for improved encryption as a quantum business opportunity. "Quantum cryptography is a whole new industry. It's a major area of active investment." He doesn't see hackers accessing quantum tech just yet. "This is elaborate technology – not something you can steal and easily operate." Oliver thinks one quantum quirk might foil decryption attempts. "The error rate for quantum computers is huge compared to classical computers. You're likely to hit an error with any big circuit. You'd need a very large quantum computer, and we're nowhere near that." What will quantum computing's future look like? What are the next steps to unlocking the potential of quantum computing? Henning says, "The first machines will be hybrid by design because programming them will require a classical computer. Several technologies will need to come together to operate them successfully. They must intelligently break down a problem into what suits each technology and then put the overall result together." He suggests business leaders embrace the future. "This revolution is coming – not tomorrow, but in a foreseeable timeframe. It may make sense to set up a smaller team to scout the technology and identify use cases. Look for opportunities to partner with quantum startups. Your business can bring the knowledge of problems that need solving." Oliver agrees it's not about having all the expertise in-house. "Build partnerships with specialists who understand how to get the most of it." Quantum computers can't do much today, but their potential is undeniable. Businesses exploring this new realm are investing in a reputation for innovation and the possibility of solving today's hard problems. Difficulty accessing and using the technology should keep hackers at bay for now, but cyber researchers are working on new encryption methods that quantum computers can't crack.
Robot fires lasers at a computer network, obliterating it while another robot watches

Predictions for Earth 2050: How will cybersecurity change?

  • min read
    • If you're like me, having a long-term vision is a wonderful aspiration… frequently quashed by today's more screamingly imminent 'to do' list. Five-year plan?  I'm still working on the next five days. But the next five minutes? That's a no-brainer: let's get immersed in the futuristic predictions for the world in 2050, and the evolving role of cybersecurity in it. Cyber-immunity will intuitively protect our systems Predicted by: Eugene Kaspersky, CEO, Kaspersky In 2050, digital systems have moved up to a whole new level. They're no longer assistants making life easier for us mere mortals, they've become the basis of civilization – the very framework keeping the world functioning properly. This quantum leap forward has generated new requirements for the reliability and stability of artificial intelligence (AI). Since the romantic era around the turn of the 21st century, cyberattacks are not yet extinct, but they're now only a threat to outliers who reject modern standards of digital immunity. One of the pillars of cyber-immunity is digital intuition, the ability of AI systems to make the right decisions in conditions where the source data is insufficient to make a rational choice. There's no mysticism here: digital intuition is the logical continuation of machine learning. When the number and complexity of related self-learning systems exceeds a certain threshold, the quality of decision-making rises to a level that eludes rational understanding. An intuitive solution results from the superimposition of the experience of a huge number of machine-learning models, much like the result of the calculations of a quantum computer. Digital intuition – with its ability to instantly, and correctly, respond to unknown challenges –has helped build the digital security standards of this new technological era. The robot servants are uprising Predicted by: Vitaly Kamluk, Director, Global Research & Analysis Team, Kaspersky Busy workers rejoice! Help for your home is arriving. A robot servant will cook your meals, do your laundry and clean your apartment. These autonomous systems will be able to carry out many complex tasks using the processing power of a central intelligent system, and in tricky situations, they'll switch to remote technical support managed by real people. There will be mass attempts to hack these helpful robots by labor rights activists and criminals trying to blackmail their owners. Since the servants will all be equipped with cameras, microphones and sensors, they offer a unique viewing platform for home-based espionage. Expect compromises of the manufacturers' infrastructure and the implantation of malicious code in devices with the aim of enacting, en masse, attacks that could be serious. The man(less) mining machine Predicted by: Andrey Nikishin, formerly Future Technologies Project Director, Kaspersky Mining is a fully automated process; people are not needed and former miners regain their health. One robot extracts rock from the soil, the second cleans it, the third guards the perimeter, while the fourth delivers the purified ore to industrial consumers. A hacker who gains access to the system can re-program individual robots so they take a small amount of the platinum ore to an unauthorized place. The guard robots are also hacked, so they're unaware of this theft. The big reveal of dynamic clothes Predicted by Vladislav Biryukov, Head of Consumer Social Media, Kaspersky Dynamic clothing is à la mode. The fabric's characteristics – color, pattern, lighting, transparency, and in advanced models, even the cut and length – can be automatically changed. Some people now wear shirts or dresses with variable transparency levels, which allows them to reveal more at any moment they choose. Few people 'program' their clothes by themselves; most enjoy free fashion patterns or, for the fashionistas, expensive programs from well-known designers. Initially lacking security, the process of getting a smart clothing upgrade has led to the emergence of a new kind of extortion. "Heading to a business meeting, sir? Transfer 10 bitcoins to this account number now, or we'll expose you!". The naked truth in the boardroom. Awkward. Not quite the transparency in business we were hoping to achieve in 2050. A quantum (computing) leap threatens cryptography Predicted by Alexey Malanov Cryptography is widely used in many spheres of online activity. It's no exaggeration to say that the world will experience a huge shock if suddenly everything that's encrypted today is unlocked. How cryptography works: some operations can be easily carried out in one direction, but they're very difficult to reverse. For example, an image can be quickly transformed into a picture puzzle, but to arrange all of the pieces back into the picture takes much longer. Modern public-key cryptography is based on this principle: I know two numbers, I have multiplied them and told everyone the answer. Now everyone can encrypt a message for me using the result of the multiplication, but only I can decipher this using the original multipliers. There are already quantum computers that allow you to quickly solve problems that seem to be circuit-breaking for conventional computers, like how to de-compose a composite number. The only obstacle to the end of the digital world – let's call it 'cryptocalypse' – is that quantum computers can only work with small numbers. But by 2050, quantum computing will allow security services or master criminals to access universal decryption, and they may choose to do bad things with it. For example, if a villain steals your credit card, he or she will immediately know your PIN. The ability to decipher brings with it the opportunity to forge: an ATM informs the bank one thousand dollars are withdrawn, but the villain falsifies the message to say only 10 dollars were taken out. We will need to develop new safety standards – fast. On the bright side, encryption helps with verification so you can be sure you're actually on your real bank's website, not a cleverly cloned fake, when you wire the ransom to keep your business suit from turning into your birthday suit. Phew! One challenge solved.
earth2050 robot, Illustration of intelligent robot protesting for robots' rights

What will the future of work be like by 2050?

  • min read
    • The world of work in 2050. If you're unlucky enough not to have retired by then, the working world will be a very different place to how it is today. The vision of the future for workers tends to scale from a nilistic view of the robots taking our jobs (leaving us permanently trapped indoors, living entirely from Amazon Prime supplies), through to the utopia of the eradication of repetitive tasks using artifical intelligence. This will leave humans free to think, create and act (while never needing to leave their home…thanks to improved remote work options and those highly convenient Amazon delivery drones). But what do the experts think it will really be like? Robots have rights too Predicted by: Ian Pearson. Ian has been a full-time futurologist for over 25 years, tracking and predicting developments across a wide range of technology, business, society, politics and the environment. We see a picket line of robots in the city center. Their placards are plastered with slogans written in binary code. The widespread development of robots and artificial intelligence have necessitated the creation of a legal framework to protect them to regulate the rights of intelligent robots. Subsequently, this code is constantly updated and improved so robots have improving rights in our society. Personal assistants for life Predicted by: Alexey Malanov Personal assistants (PAs) have rapidly developed throughout the 21st century. To begin with, they could only answer primitive questions: in 2019, voice assistants were as dumb as a box of rocks. But by 2025, they'd mastered the art of recognizing and transcribing speech (with punctuation marks too); they could understand the meaning of a text and recite it so realistically that it was almost indistinguishable from a human. This led to half of all office activities being automated: PAs began to take minutes, write post-meeting reports, summarize lengthy documents, and consciously digest and recapitulate the contents of messages. They also plan your day, schedule meetings and even order lunch. Thanks to machine learning, PAs are fully adapted to their owners' personalities, increasingly penetrating every aspect of their lives. It all began with assisting with office work, and by the mid-2040s, PAs had become an integral part of everyday life by monitoring their owners' diets, planning trips abroad, buying gifts for friends and family, and more. But it's not as rosy as it seems: the human-PA relationship has spawned a plethora of psychological issues and communication difficulties between real people. However, a specially trained AI psychologist is on hand to help us cope. Paradoxically, it's just another voice assistant. The power is in your hands Predicted by: Mersey Shelley is a pseudonym of Alexey Andreyev, writer and futurologist, who works for Kaspersky. This prediction is from his cyberpunk novel '2048' published in 2004. In decades past, palms and fingers were scanned for identification. Now, hands with implanted sensors become the scanners themselves. These implants come in different models with two main variations: first, a simple scanner for daily use. It helps to read different tags and product codes, and to exchange digital business cards via the handshake ritual (you can use face recognition to identify a stranger but this is considered indecent; besides, many people use protection to prevent recognition. Hats with special veils are popular). Second, sophisticated scanners for technicians and other professionals. For example, a doctor's hand includes various medical sensors for diagnostics – even a portable endoscope with a direct video stream to the doctor's visual cortex. A flexible workforce Predicted by Jacob Morgan is a best-selling author, speaker, futurist and founder of Future of Work University. In the year 2050, technology will dominate the workplace with artificial intelligence and smart assistants being commonplace, while the use of augmented and virtual reality continues to increase. Everything will be 'smart' – connected and data-driven. The vast majority of us will continue working the same way we are today, but the jobs on offer will be ones that haven't yet been invented. Emotional intelligence and 'human' skills such as perpetual learning will be crucial for leaders to possess, as well as fluency with the latest technologies. Work will increasingly become more fluid as some employees will be virtual, some will be full-time, some will be bots, and we will all be working non-fixed hours. As with any kind of change, there will be pros and cons. Those who work in routine jobs are likely to struggle to make sure they can stay relevant in the new world of work. The advantage is that this will give us more time to focus on the human aspects of work such as building relationships, being creative, deep thinking, and practicing skills like empathy and self-awareness. Technology will help us make organizations more personable. This also means that we need to get more comfortable with using technology such as bots and AI in our work, a cause of tension and fear for some. And what about working hours? It depends if you're a knowledge worker or working in industries like retail. Flexible work arrangements are already being implemented at organizations around the world. The advantages are far-ranging, from improving employee satisfaction, productivity and tenure, to being able to attract and retain top talent. The potential disadvantages here are making sure that employees can stay accountable for delivering high-quality work while feeling like they're a part of the team, dealing with isolation, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration. I think the pros outstrip the cons: when managed effectively, flexible work arrangements can be a huge benefit to the organization and its people. Focus on the user experience Predicted by: Edney Souza, digital culture and business and technology teacher, speaker and entrepreneur, Brazil. For sure, work will become more fun and those repetitive activities in our day-to-day life will be done by robots and artificial intelligence. Knowing programming logic will be as important as English and mathematics. User experience design (UX) will be more important than other technical components of a project to ensure its success with customers. Skills in solving problems and serving customers will continue to be competitive advantages for the work of the future. Read more predictions about our technological future from scientists, futurologists and cybersecurity experts at Earth 2050 by Kaspersky.
insight story industrial iot a doctor makes an injection to a robot using a wire syringe connected to their smartphone

Industrial ‘Internet of Things:’ Is security too far down the production line?

  • min read
    • Imagine every part of the workplace – from manufacturing equipment to energy grids, healthcare devices to farms – had the connectivity of a smartphone. That's the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) – sometimes known as Industry 4.0. It brings a host of efficiencies, like real-time data-analysis and improved predictive maintenance. But with great connectivity comes great responsibility. IIoT can be especially vulnerable to attack. And while it's now widely used, many businesses know their IIoT systems are poorly protected. In the second episode of Insight Story season 2, guests Chris Kubeska, Netherlands-based security researcher, cyber warfare specialist and CEO of HypaSec, and Alison Peace, patient management operations manager for UK and Ireland at Medtronic, illuminate how industry can use and protect game-changing IIoT. Where is IIoT most commonly used? All sectors are using IIoT, but some more than others. Chris says, "The maritime industry uses IIoT a lot. It's also widely used in the space industry, medical devices and critical infrastructure." Medtronic is a global developer and producer of medical devices and therapies like insulin pumps, pacemakers and implantable defibrillators – all increasingly connected. Alison explains the patient benefits: "In the UK, more than 100,000 patients receive an implanted cardiac device each year. They then have constant hospital checks, which places a burden on healthcare services. Remote monitoring for cardiac devices started in basic form almost 20 years ago. Devices can now send wireless alerts if they detect a problem. Data shows patient outcomes are better – they don't go into hospital as much." Cybercriminals have noticed loosely protected IIoT Despite its relative newness, there have been many documented attacks on IIoT. In 2014 an attack on a German steel mill's IIoT systems killed three people and injured many more. The attacker gained access to the mill's office network then compromised its industrial control system. The compromise prevented a blast furnace shutting down, leading to an explosion. Even without a breach, users finding vulnerabilities in everyday tech means reputation-damaging headlines. At-home stationary fitness bike makers Peloton were embarrassed when a security researcher found their gear included an open channel that allowed access to users' private information like weight, gender and date of birth. Similarly, a hacker accessed footage from Verkada internet-connected security cameras. Securing industrial smarts Dr. Amin Hasbini, Head of Research Center Middle East, Turkey and Africa for Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT,) is concerned about the gap between businesses who use IIoT and those who fully secure it. "A recent Kaspersky study found over 60 percent of businesses use IoT. But close to half say these systems aren't fully protected. A third of these organizations blame lack of budget, but when it's not resources stopping them, what is it?" Whatever it is, senior leaders in organizations using IIoT must shift the barriers to best-practice security. Amin says, "Some technology vendors race to add features while largely ignoring security." "The challenge starts at the top in each organization. If security becomes a priority, it gets translated into policies, guidelines and methods." Chris advises thinking about how when security may not be front of mind in your organization's tech decision-making. "Your procurement department will be looking for the least expensive deal, but that deal might not include the best security." She continues, "Many IIoT systems come with older operating systems that don't have the security settings you'd want. And then, there may not be a secure way to update the software. These are some of the risks. Know what you're buying so you can plan ahead and mitigate those risks." Alison says medical devices are now made differently to ensure security. "It's important to incorporate an encryption module to make sure others can't read the device's data. Our devices don't connect to the internet, but use a pass-through to a monitor or app. Data is encrypted in the device and sent encrypted." Alison believes the high standards of institutions they work with helps give patients confidence in their devices. "In the UK and Ireland there are strict controls when health systems engage third parties. You must have rules, regulations and systems in place to work with hospitals." Chris also has recommendations for contracts with third parties. "For encryption, your contract should specify meeting the standards of the time. So when you renew, the expectation is to keep to those standards. Have a responsible disclosure policy, and ensure your suppliers have good data security and privacy policies." She says don't be shy to end a technology vendor relationship if security conversations feel awkward. "If you don't feel comfortable speaking about cybersecurity and privacy with your supplier, look for a new one. Look at suppliers who take part in security conferences. If they're actively looking at security, that gives credence." Is regulation keeping up with IIoT? Chris thinks business should expect regulation around IIoT to speed up. "The tech's definitely moving faster than law, but there are some guidelines and frameworks." Alison feels those designing IIoT must allow for changing security requirements – something Medtronic has strived for. "Our global security office is tasked with making sure our devices comply with standards worldwide. National legislation could say, we want the data from your device in this format, and our devices are designed to enable that." Simplifying a tangled net of things Chris thinks IIoT manufacturers could aspire to lead in many ways, but chiefly, making levels of security simple to understand. "Start applying what I call 'easy standards,' like a traffic light system, so consumers and companies can know if something has a minimum level of security – for example, can it be updated? Medical uses would need a higher standard compared with consumer home grade." Alison agrees that clear and standard practice matter. "A third party can easily comply with clearly communicated, standardized security requirements. Open communication and clear criteria are essential." IIoT is already commonplace and will only grow as those organizations yet to adopt see its potential to improve productivity and reduce costs. As technology becomes increasingly connected, securing IIoT is fundamental to the safety of just about everything in our lives. As Chris warns, "I want to retire knowing my own technology won't kill me." Leaders can keep their organization and customers safe by asking the right questions and pursuing IIoT vendors who prioritize security.
insight story, employer uses generative ai

How businesses can use generative AI to empower employees

  • min read
    • Headlines about the power of generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) are everywhere. But business leaders are asking, is it really that game-changing, or just a fad? And if it is a game-changer, how can you make the most of it? In the first episode of our second season of Kaspersky's podcast Insight Story, I speak with experts Shagun Sachdeva (India,) Project Manager for Disruptive Tech at business intelligence service GlobalData Plc and Karen Quinn (UK,) Senior Director, Brand and Corporate Communications at financial software providers, Finastra. What is generative AI? TechTarget defines gen AI as any "artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data." Some applications rely on Natural Language Processing so users can ask for outputs using everyday speech. Well-known examples of gen AI include OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT and Google Bard, but current and potential business uses are near endless. Shagun thinks many businesses already understand its importance. "A recent GlobalData Plc survey found more than 50 percent of businesses expect gen AI will tangibly disrupt their industry in the next five years. 30 percent are already using gen AI tools." How are businesses using gen AI? "Business leaders are having more sophisticated conversations about how gen AI can go from an experiment to giving strong returns on investment," says Shagun. "Whether it's chatbots engaging with customers, sharing financial tips and customizing financial plans based on individual spending habits. It's also generating loan options based on a user's credit profile." Finastra plans to develop gen AI tools for customers in future, but they've started in-house with GENAI (X,) a gen AI-based system now rolled out to their 8,000 employees. "We use it for things like understanding and reviewing contracts, predicting behaviors and optimizing workflows," says Karen. She believes that although only being used internally so far, their gen AI tools are benefiting customers. "We can only work with the data we have to make financial decisions. Anything that can generate new scenarios, pull in more data sources or enable federated learning can only benefit." Is gen AI a threat to jobs? Shagun acknowledges employees worry AI might replace them. "Some of that anxiety may be justified – a Goldman Sachs report in March 2023 said AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs." But getting to know gen AI better may help overcome that concern. "Lean in to the technology. Education and training is key. Start with courses like prompt engineering." Karen refers to a quote from economist and professor Richard Baldwin, "AI won't take your job. It's somebody using AI that will take your job." In other words, it's not the technology itself that's a threat to jobs but failing to explore it and take full advantage of it. She advises looking at the benefits of gen AI broadly. "This is not an efficiency play. People will become more productive, but hopefully that means work is more rewarding." Getting gen AI right While generative AI offers much possibility, it also raises concerns around ethics, bias and data privacy. It is largely unregulated today and developing AI models can be resource-intensive. Karen highlights Finastra's caution. "We rigorously tested the products, then launched a full-scale training program and disabled other tools. They're still going through testing, like panels to try and break them and make sure no sensitive data gets shared with the wrong audiences." She continues, "In brand and communications, there are copyright issues. If you're using text-to-image prompts, where is it drawing data from? We need to be very careful." Materials used to train AI are often copyrighted, and whether people or businesses can copyright outputs of gen AI is subject to legal challenges in many countries, with some courts – including in the US and Italy – ruling no, at least in the case of visual arts. Balancing gen AI optimism with realism Shagun feels misinformation is the biggest business risk from gen AI. "It can fabricate 'facts' – what Google researchers call hallucinations." She also recommends businesses pay attention to copyright. "Disputes have arisen between artists and AI companies over the value of human creativity." Data privacy and security also rate highly for Shagun. "Large language models are trained on vast swathes of internet data. There's no data protection embedded in these systems by design or default. Training data can fail to include women, older people or marginalized groups – that's an ethical challenge." Security and generative AI Amin Hasbini is Kaspersky's Head of Research Center for its Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT,) Middle East, Turkey and Africa. He says many employees are already using freely available AI tools, potentially without their employers knowing. "In a 2023 Kaspersky study, we found 57 percent of workers are using generative AI to save time. This raises many security questions. What kind of data are they putting into it? Is it intellectual property, code or documents to summarize? That's a major concern." Cybercriminals are also using generative AI to help them fool people with more realistic fake websites. In 2022, Kaspersky's anti-phishing system blocked more than 500 million attempts to access fraudulent websites – a doubling of attempts in the previous year. It's likely cybercriminals are already using generative AI chatbot ChatGPT's ability to produce convincing texts to create automated spearphishing attacks – phishing targeted at specific people. To protect against generative AI-based threats, Amin advises, "It starts with awareness. Employees need to know their organization's boundaries around putting data into AI websites. Businesses need enterprise cybersecurity solutions that allow monitoring and control of devices, systems and data used within the organization." Leading employee cybersecurity awareness approaches include implementing a cyber champions program or targeted education as used by Heathrow Airport. Gen AI's future potential What kinds of applications for gen AI will we see businesses pursuing in the near future? Shagun believes what businesses do today will decide the future of gen AI. "The world will look completely different by 2030. Global Data Plc estimates the AI market will be worth around 900 billion by 2030. But that doesn't mean carelessly diving in. "Gen AI is no magic bullet. While the enthusiasm around it is justified, prudence is imperative. We need responsible innovation," says Shagun. Karen imagines gen AI helping to make markets fairer. "Gen AI has incredible potential to overcome inefficiencies, like small-to-medium business (SMB) access to trade finance. Gen AI might be able to generate or automate some of the processes for onboarding smaller companies into global trade, opening them up to a wider audience." She also thinks gen AI could help solve some of the problems it's been known to introduce. "It can help identify bias through explainability and ensure we close feedback loops that cause biases. It could also look at efficiencies in supply chains, contracts and communications and marketing. It can take out some of the drudgery and enrich the processes." "We're on the cusp of understanding what gen AI can do," Karen says. "Who knows what the future brings? This could be game-changing in ways we can't even imagine." Like Karen and Shagun, as a creative marketer, I'm drawn between mostly optimism and a little fear about what gen AI will bring. As I wrote following a gen AI talk for marketers where I heard about Karen's exceptional AI program at Finastra, I'm optimistic we can do it right. Having the training, technologies and policies to bring the whole organization on the journey, we can use this tech to free us by shifting mundane tasks down to these somewhat smart bots. But in that shift, we may narrow opportunities – particularly for talent entering our industries – to refine their craft and learn the difference between average and distinctive output. Refined talent that generative AI lacks. For now, anyway.
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Secure Futures magazine is your go-to business guide for opinions, trends and insight into the world of technology and cybersecurity. We help your business to bring on the future. Brought to you by Kaspersky, the global cybersecurity experts.

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