News Poll: Communications, reports drive AI use in security

YARMOUTH, Maine — Artificial intelligence (AI) has found itself at home in every aspect of commercial life and the security industry is no exception, with 75% of responses to a recent SSN News Poll reporting that their organization has integrated AI tools like ChatGPT into daily security operations. 

The remaining one-quarter of respondents reported using AI tools like ChatGPT in a limited capacity or still testing their effectiveness. 

Where are these tools proving most useful in the security industry? Traditionally time-consuming tasks like incident reports or proposals, half of respondents reported. 

“(It) saves time on contract review (and) financial program construction,” wrote one respondent. 

The remaining 50% of respondents were split between using AI in some capacity for threat intelligence and analysis, or policy and compliance documentation.  

All respondents reported they were using AI for client communications and training materials. 

More than 75% of respondents reported having concerns about the use of AI in a professional setting. Half of respondents were concerned about the reliability and accuracy of AI output, and others about data privacy and confidentiality. This lines up with statistics from a 2023 article from the Pew Research Center that found 70% of Americans have little or no trust in companies using AI responsibly.  

For those respondents unconcerned about AI usage, these tools have proven a boon for greasing the wheels of productivity. 

“I've gotten a lot out of using the tool,” one respondent wrote. “While my writing skills were already solid, it has helped me refine and streamline my communication. I now feel more confident that my messages come across clearly and professionally.”