Why AI Is Your Biggest Business Opportunity—And Risk

Forbes

7 days ago

Steve Wilson, Chief AI and Product Officer, Exabeam.
Cybersecurity often operates within a bubble, assuming that business leaders are fully conversant with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). The reality? AI is reshaping every facet of business, and its implications stretch far beyond security.
Although McKinsey researchers report that 78% of organizations now use AI in at least one business function, a significant jump from 72% in early 2024, many executives' exposure to AI regrettably begins and ends with large language models (LLMs). This leaves them unaware of vital areas such as AI-powered threat detection, the complexities of autonomous systems and the strategic implications of adversarial machine learning. That's not just a blind spot, it's a business risk. AI is now both your biggest opportunity and your biggest threat.
The Art Of Knowing What You Don't Know
AI is now embedded everywhere, boosting efficiency. But this integration unleashes unintended consequences: flawed automation, biased outputs, compliance pitfalls and reputational damage. These aren't technical glitches; they're fundamental business risks that hammer trust and resilience.
Leaders don't need to be security experts, but they must grasp the AI agenda. This means dictating AI's governance, deployment and risk management enterprise-wide. It also means having the self-awareness to ask the right questions and the right people.
Assuming everyone "just gets it" widens the critical gap between security pros and executive leadership. The real danger isn't misunderstanding; it's the profound business implications that follow. Without clear, business-aligned AI risk communication, companies underinvest, stall decisions and create a false sense of security at the top.
The Results Speak Loudly
The tangible benefits of AI are already underway, and the results speak for themselves. For example, in a 2025 Exabeam study, 56% of security teams reported that AI has boosted productivity by streamlining tasks, automating routine processes and accelerating response times. These undeniable gains demonstrate the real business value of AI when implemented responsibly and with clear oversight.
But the stakes are rising. In a May 2025 Senate testimony, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called for an AI regulatory sandbox to encourage innovation while avoiding fragmented overregulation. His message was clear: This isn't just tech. AI is now a geopolitical, economic and competitive force. Leaders who aren't actively engaged will miss the opportunity.
From Soundbites To Substance
It isn't enough to simply name-drop AI on earnings calls. True leadership means showing, not just saying, how AI aligns with business outcomes like growth and resilience. Every company, not just tech vendors, must step up. That starts with the following actions:
• Establish AI governance at the C-suite level. AI is a cross-functional strategic priority, not just an IT or security task. A C-suite team, including legal, risk and operations, must align AI initiatives with business goals, prioritize investments and manage enterprise-wide risks and rewards.
• Treat AI as a strategic asset, not just a tool. To secure executive buy-in, frame AI risks by their business impact: reputational damage, fines, market loss or eroded trust. This helps ensure leaders see AI as a critical business issue, demanding their proactive management, not just a technical one.
• Champion smart AI regulation and industry collaboration. Engage with policymakers, regulators and industry groups to advocate for balanced AI regulations that prevent overregulation at the state level while fostering innovation. As OpenAI's Altman testified, creating a framework for AI adoption is crucial. This collaborative approach can help shape a sustainable AI ecosystem, ensuring that regulations support growth while addressing security and ethical concerns.
• Invest in AI resilience, transparency and accountability. Prioritize building effective, transparent and auditable AI systems. This mitigates risks like bias and compliance failures, helping ensure long-term trust, quick issue correction and leadership in responsible AI.
Your AI Strategy Can't Be Siloed
Too often, AI sits with technical teams, disconnected from core business strategy. That's a governance failure. AI must be embedded across strategic planning, risk management and product development, with clear ownership from the start.
Meanwhile, the market is awash with new AI products and bold promises. CISOs and tech leaders must become simplifiers and skeptics, cutting through the hype to vet solutions based on real value, not just marketing tropes. Generative AI brings innovation but risks repeating past cycles of overpromising. Disciplined due diligence is essential.
Ultimately, AI is a catalyst for growth. The smartest leaders aren't chasing every trend—they're investing in the right people, like data scientists and prompt engineers. Because in this complex era, the real edge is clarity. Bold leadership means aligning your teams, tech and strategy to unlock value while keeping risk in check.
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