Waterloo, ON, Aug. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) has recently conducted new research that reveals a growing trend among organizations worldwide to implement or consider banning ChatGPT and other Generative AI applications in the workplace. According to the research, 75% of organizations are currently implementing or considering such bans, with 61% of them intending the measures to be long term or permanent.
The primary driver behind these decisions is the concern for data security, privacy, and corporate reputation. Organizations fear that unsecured apps pose a significant cybersecurity threat to their corporate IT environment, with 83% of respondents expressing this concern.
Despite their inclination towards outright bans, organizations also recognize the potential for Generative AI applications to enhance efficiency, innovation, and creativity in the workplace. Among the respondents, 55% believe that these applications can increase efficiency, 52% believe they can foster innovation, and 51% believe they can enhance creativity. This shows that while there are risks associated with these applications, there is also an acknowledgment of their potential benefits.
Shishir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Cybersecurity at BlackBerry, suggests that organizations take a cautious yet dynamic approach to Generative AI applications in the workplace. Singh states, “Banning Generative AI applications in the workplace can mean a wealth of potential business benefits are quashed. 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 having the right tools in place for visibility, monitoring, and management of applications used in the workplace.”
The research also sheds light on the sentiments of IT decision-makers regarding organizational control over the applications employees use for business purposes. While 80% agree that organizations have the right to control these applications, 74% believe that bans on such applications indicate “excessive control” over corporate and Bring Your Own (BYO) devices.
To address these concerns, unified endpoint management (UEM) is recommended for CIOs and CISOs. UEM provides the necessary controls over which applications can connect to the corporate environment, ensuring both enterprise security and user privacy by containerizing corporate data. In a time when consumer-grade Generative AI and other unregulated applications pose security risks, an enterprise-grade UEM solution like BlackBerry UEM is crucial for organizations.
BlackBerry will be hosting a live broadcast on August 10, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET to explore the highlights of the research report. IT professionals and others interested can follow BlackBerry on LinkedIn for updates on how to join the event.
For more information on how BlackBerry’s prevention-first solutions can help businesses, visit BlackBerry.com.
Research for this study was conducted in June/July 2023 by OnePoll on behalf of BlackBerry. The research involved surveying 2,000 IT Decision Makers across North America (USA and Canada), Europe (UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands), Japan, and Australia.
About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments worldwide. The company’s solutions secure more than 500 million endpoints, including over 235 million vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the fields of cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy. The company is a leader in endpoint management, endpoint security, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry’s vision is to secure a connected future that can be trusted.
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