Digital transformation Managed Services Provider Node4 commissioned an independent research firm which found that job loss fears rank high among IT decision-makers regarding AI adoption within their organisations.

The breakdown of these concerns is as follows: 37 per cent of CTOs, 29 per cent of Heads of IT, 27 per cent of IT Directors, 26 per cent of CIOs, and 29 per cent of IT Managers share this apprehension.

This sentiment is pervasive across various vertical sectors covered in the report, including mid-market finance (36 per cent), private healthcare (27 per cent), insurance (27 per cent), retail (29 per cent), and transport (25 per cent) organisations.

Node4’s Mid-Market IT Priorities Report 2024 also sheds light on the potential negative impact of AI on organisational IT security:

More than 30 per cent of respondents view AI as a top cybersecurity threat over the next 12 months, while 28 per cent believe AI could expose their organisation to new cybersecurity risks. Another 25 per cent think AI might inadvertently reveal sensitive corporate information.

These findings explain why respondents have prioritised dealing with AI-related threats as their top cybersecurity concern for the remainder of 2024. Furthermore, a lack of security emerges as the primary barrier to AI adoption.

Node4’s research indicates that most mid-market organisations plan to seek assistance from third parties to address security gaps and other key AI adoption challenges, such as poor data availability and data quality. When addressing security concerns:

More than half of respondents would rely on cloud providers, while 40 per cent would engage retained consultants. Another 34 per cent would turn to managed service providers (MSPs).

When dealing with data availability and quality issues, half would opt for third-party support from cloud providers while 42 per cent would seek assistance from MSPs and 36 per cent would engage retained consultants.

Geoff Barlow, Product and Strategy Director at Node4, said that potential job losses and cybersecurity risks are the top AI adoption concerns for IT decision-makers.

He advises organizations to address these challenges and recognize how AI can enhance their operations. Barlow encourages proactive planning, education, and evaluation of AI adoption processes to ensure successful upskilling and effective third-party support.