Data security may affect AI adoption, say African CEOs

African Chief Executive Officers have said data security may affect their adoption of generative Artificial Intelligence.

This was disclosed in a new global study by the IBM Institute for Business Value.

The report, titled ‘CEO decision-making in the age of AI, Act with intention’, said 53 per cent African CEOs identify technology factors as a factor that would impact their AI adoption journeys, with 57 per cent of those CEOs worrying that data security would come in their way.

The General Manager of IBM Africa Growth Markets, Julia Carvalho, said, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution has presented Africa with an opportunity to leapfrog various stages of economic development.

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“Consequently, African organisations are leveraging generative AI and emerging innovation models to accelerate innovation, enhance customer experiences, productivity and profitability, and environmental sustainability, to name a few.

“However, it’s critical that CEOs in Africa establish and implement clear and consistent standards as it concerns the utilisation of AI across all areas of strategic focus, as it will determine the level of investment and, ultimately, an organisation’s success in a rapidly advancing digital economy.”

The study noted that 54 per cent of African CEOs identified customer experience as their highest business priority and 46 per cent claimed that productivity or profitability was important to achieving their business goals and was their second highest.

It stated that those business owners expected to realise significant value from advanced forms of AI and analytics such as cloud computing, automation, generative AI, deep learning, machine learning, advanced analytics, and more.

However, 51 per cent cited market factors, 49 per cent regulatory factors, 33 per cent workforce and skills as leading external factors that were having the most significant impact on their organisations.

It added, “More than half (57 per cent) of global CEOs surveyed cite concerns about data security, and 48 per cent worry about bias or data accuracy, barriers they indicate could slow their adoption of generative AI.

“African CEOs face several data challenges, with nearly half of the respondents citing unclear data calculation and reporting across suppliers and partners (48 per cent) and within their organisations (47 per cent) as the most critical risks or barriers.”