Over seventy per cent of organizations worldwide set to ban ChatGPT and generative AI apps on work devices, says BlackBerry research
by CM staff
BlackBerry calls for caution with consumer-grade generative AI tools in the workplace.
WATERLOO — BlackBerry Limited released research revealing that 75 per cent of organizations worldwide are currently implementing or considering bans on ChatGPT and other Generative AI applications within the workplace.
While, 61 per cent of those deploying or considering bans said the measures are intended as long term or permanent, with risks to data security, privacy, and corporate reputation driving decisions to take action. Moreover, 83 per cent also voiced concerns that unsecured apps pose a cybersecurity threat to their corporate IT environment.
Despite their inclination towards outright bans, the majority also recognize the opportunity for Generative AI applications in the workplace to increase efficiency (55 per cent) and innovation (52 per cent), and enhance creativity (51 per cent). When it comes to using Generative AI tools for cybersecurity defense, the majority of respondents (81 per cent) remained in favour, suggesting that IT decision makers don’t want to be caught flat-footed and give cyber criminals the upper hand.
“Banning Generative AI applications in the workplace can mean a wealth of potential business benefits are quashed,” said Shishir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Cybersecurity, at BlackBerry. “At BlackBerry, the pioneer of AI cybersecurity, we are innovating with enterprise-grade Generative AI, keeping a steady focus on value over hype, and are exercising caution with unsecured consumer Generative AI tools. As platforms mature and regulations take effect, flexibility could be introduced into organizational policies. The key will be in having the right tools in place for visibility, monitoring and management of applications used in the workplace.”
The research also revealed that although 80 per cent of IT decision makers agree that organizations are within their rights to control the applications that employees use for business purposes, 74 per cent think that such bans signal “excessive control” over corporate and BYO devices.
For CIO’s and CISO’s, unified endpoint management (UEM) provides the required controls over which applications can connect to the corporate environment, ensuring enterprise security together with user privacy by containerizing corporate data. At a time when consumer-grade Generative AI and other unregulated applications are unsecure, an enterprise-grade UEM solution, such as BlackBerry UEM, is critical to organizations.
