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Concerns that AI could replace existing jobs within mid-market companies are growing. According to Node4’s recent independent research, job loss fears top the list of worries that IT decision-makers have about AI use within their organisation. That number breaks down to 37% of CTOs, 29% of Heads of IT, 27% of IT Directors, 26% of CIOs, and 29% of IT Managers. It’s also a common fear across each vertical sector covered within the report, with a substantial number of respondents in mid-market finance (36%), private healthcare (27%), insurance (27%), retail (29%) and transport (25%) organisations feeling the same way.
Results from Node4’s Mid-Market IT Priorities Report 2024 also reveal respondents are clear about the potentially negative impact that AI could have on their organisation’s IT security:
30% said that AI represents a top cyber security threat over the next 12 months
28% believe AI could expose their organisation to new cyber security risks
25% think AI could accidentally reveal sensitive corporate information
This may be why respondents confirmed that dealing with AI-related threats is their top cyber security priority for the remainder of 2024—and why a lack of security is the top barrier to AI adoption.
Node4’s research suggests that most mid-market organisations intend to seek help from third parties in addressing their lack of security, as well as other key AI adoption barriers, including poor data availability and data quality. In terms of dealing with a lack of security, most respondents said they would rely on a mix of cloud providers (50%), retained consultants (40%), and MSPs (34%). A similar proportion said that they would opt for third-party support to deal with a lack of data availability (cloud providers, 50%, MSPs, 42% and retained consultants, 36%) and data quality (cloud provider, 57%, MSPs, 35%, retained consultants 32%).
“IT decision-makers identified potential job losses and cyber security risks as their two top AI adoption concerns,” explains Geoff Barlow, Product and Strategy Director at Node4. “At this stage, it’s sensible to take stock and understand not only these key issues, but how AI could also enhance your organisation. Our research suggests respondents are doing precisely that—and with great maturity and informed opinion.”
He concludes: “Respondents appear concerned that their organisations can’t keep pace with the necessary retraining to mitigate against job losses or evolve for an AI-driven economy. They’re also worried about the rapid rate at which new cyber security threats are emerging. My advice on both counts is to plan and prepare now. We know that great leaps in technology actually create new roles and opportunities. IT leaders should take a proactive stance by educating themselves and their organisation, evaluating the scope, scale and speed of their own AI adoption, putting the right processes in place to facilitate upskilling and engaging the necessary third-party support.”
