A recent study by BlackBerry has revealed that three-quarters of businesses worldwide are either implementing or considering plans to ban generative AI applications in their workplaces. The study, which surveyed 2,000 IT decision-makers across different countries, found that 61% of respondents see these bans as permanent or long-term measures.

The main concerns driving these prohibitions include data security, privacy, and brand reputation risks, with 83% expressing worries about unsecured applications posing security threats to their IT environments. Despite the caution surrounding generative AI, most organizations recognize its potential benefits, such as increased efficiencies, innovation, and enhanced creativity. Furthermore, 81% of respondents believe that generative AI can be used for cybersecurity defense.

BlackBerry's CTO for cybersecurity, Shishir Singh, suggests that companies should focus on adopting "enterprise-grade" generative AI and exercise caution when dealing with unsecured consumer generative AI tools rather than imposing bans. In related news, a recent report by Gartner found that generative AI has become a growing concern for enterprise risk executives. It was ranked as the second most-cited risk among 249 senior enterprise risk executives surveyed in the second quarter of 2023. This reflects the rapid growth in public awareness and usage of generative AI tools and their potential associated risks.

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