How can CISOs influence (or perhaps even contribute to) the business’s AI adoption strategy?

A CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) plays a crucial role in shaping a business's AI adoption strategy. They can exert their influence through
> Security Concerns
> Data Privacy
> Ethical Considerations
> Risk Management
> Collaboration and Education

Usually based upon the organization structure, CISO's promote a culture of security and awareness around AI adoption.
By actively participating in the AI adoption strategy, CISOs can help businesses reap the benefits of AI while keeping the Organization reputation in good books and making thoer systems safe

Security is needed to successfully roll out AI. There are a range of concerns such as cyber security, privacy, responsible AI and regulations where the CISO can leverage their experience to accelerate the adoption of AI with the right guardrails in place.

CISOs have an important role in shaping strategies for using AI in businesses. To be successful, they need support from the business. They can ensure that data privacy and information security are integrated at every stage of the AI lifecycle. CISOs can also influence technology selection, access controls, compliance, and risk management. By taking a proactive approach to audits and security assessments, CISOs can help minimize vulnerabilities and ensure a secure AI adoption process.

If a security leader's organization isn't yet experimenting with AI, they should take the initiative and proactively collaborate rather than wait for a directive from the CEO. It's crucial to manage AI before it gets out of the box. This means developing policies, guiding teams on proper AI usage, and creating internal tools to manage company data securely. For instance, when ChatGPT gained popularity, we swiftly developed an internal version to prevent proprietary information from being exposed.

A proactive approach is essential for modern CISOs committed to their role. It's about not just safeguarding but also enhancing and optimizing systems. At a previous company, I helped deploy robotic process automation (RPA) in the financial services division, allowing employees to focus on more engaging tasks while robots handled the routine work. We started with RPA in cybersecurity to review logs and have since seen that technology advance to leverage AI, which offers far greater capabilities.

Our approach to AI and technology adoption is very hands-on and forward-thinking. Thought leadership in technology isn't just about deploying the latest tools—it's about understanding and controlling their implementation to benefit the organization. It's about pushing beyond the basics and driving innovation responsibly and strategically.

It can be tough influencing business adoption strategies, but CISOs can make a real impact by working closely with other teams. Instead of just being the “no” department, they can help shape AI adoption by showing how good security practices actually support and boost innovation. By being open, understanding the business goals, and framing risks as opportunities, they can be seen as a key partner in making AI work.