GenAI Adoption Reaches 77%, but Cybersecurity Integration Lags

The adoption of Generative AI in Latin America has reached 77.68% of organizations, reveals NTT DATA. However, only 24.79% use it to strengthen their cybersecurity measures, adds the company. Adoption has been hindered by the lack of talent, regulation, and clear strategies to fully deploy its potential.

“Generative AI adoption in cybersecurity can help identify patterns and anomalies that traditional methods sometimes fail to detect. This technology would be an ally in countering the cyberattack attempts companies continuously face,” says Cristhian Atristain, Head of Cybersecurity, NTT DATA Mexico.

Gen AI has emerged as a disruptive tool in multiple sectors. According to the study The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI, published by The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 39.4% of US adults between the ages of 18 and 64 use this tool. Of this percentage, 28% use it at work, while 24.1% do so at least once a week. The data also reveals that 32% of men use it in their work environment, compared to 23% of women. Among workers under 40 years of age, 34% use it, while only 17% of those over 50 do. Additionally, 40% of professionals with higher education use it, compared to 20% of those without a college degree. In the case of graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, 46% are users, while in other disciplines, the percentage drops to 22%.

In the cybersecurity industry, its ability to analyze large volumes of data, identify patterns, and predict threats makes it a valuable asset for businesses. However, its adoption in Latin America faces unique challenges.

According to the Cybersecurity and AI study by NTT DATA, 47% of organizations consider maintaining cybersecurity standards to be the main obstacle to implementing Gen AI. Moreover, 75% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) acknowledge that their teams lack the necessary skills to work with this technology. Additionally, integrating Gen AI into existing systems represents a significant challenge, as many businesses face technical and financial difficulties in adapting their infrastructure.

The lack of regulatory clarity also plays a critical role, as 45% of NTT Data survey respondents indicate that uncertainty in government regulations hinders innovation and makes investing in Generative AI more difficult. Despite these challenges, 51% of companies have increased their investment in security due to its potential.

The NTT DATA study reveals that Generative AI is primarily being used to enhance threat detection capabilities, including identifying patterns and anomalies that traditional methods might overlook. However, its adoption in cybersecurity remains limited, with only 24.79% of Latin American organizations reporting its use in this area. This contrasts with 77.68% of companies that have already adopted it in other areas, suggesting a gap between its potential and its practical application in digital security.

“Cybersecurity is crucial today, and organizations must be aware of their cyber resilience posture. It is not just about preventing any cyberattack attempts but developing a solid plan leveraging AI and generative AI,” says María Pilar Torres, Head of Cybersecurity for Iberia and Latin America, NTT DATA. 

The study also highlights that 49% of CISOs believe that Generative AI represents a revolution in the cybersecurity sector. However, 88% of them report that their companies are experiencing “pilot fatigue,” a phenomenon that occurs when organizations focus on too many test projects without achieving large-scale implementation.

“Generative AI is transforming cybersecurity in Latin America, offering new capabilities to detect and prevent threats,” reads the report. “However, its effective adoption requires overcoming the identified challenges and developing comprehensive strategies that include training, investment in infrastructure, and collaboration with regulatory bodies to maximize the benefits of this technology.”