African CEO’s: Data Security May Affect AI Adoption

Chief Executive Officers in Africa have said that data security may likely affect their adoption of generative Artificial Intelligence.

This was disclosed, in a new global study report titled “CEO’s decision making in the age of AI“, by General Manager of IBM Africa Growth Markets, Julia Carvalho.

In the report, it was said that 53 percent 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.

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

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

It added, “More than half (57 percent) of global CEOs surveyed cite concerns about data security, and 48 percent 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 percent) and within their organisations (47 percent) as the most critical risks or barriers.”

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