7 November 2024, Thu |
10:55 PM
A new survey from SolarWinds shows that 87% of IT professionals in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) support stronger government regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). The survey, which polled nearly 700 IT experts, including 297 from the EMEA region, highlights security and privacy as the top concerns surrounding AI.
The findings reveal that over two-thirds (67%) of EMEA IT professionals prioritize government intervention to address AI security issues. Additionally, 60% believe stronger rules are necessary to protect privacy and sensitive data, while another 60% emphasize the importance of government action to prevent the spread of misinformation via AI technologies. Nearly half (47%) also support regulations aimed at promoting transparency and ethical practices in AI development.
These concerns come at a time when several EMEA governments are beginning to roll out significant initiatives to create secure and ethical AI frameworks. The EU’s AI Act, Dubai’s Universal Blueprint for AI, and Saudi Arabia’s US$40 billion AI investment fund are just a few examples of efforts to establish responsible AI policies.
Data quality also emerges as a major challenge in AI adoption. Only 33% of respondents in the EMEA region trust the data quality used in AI systems, with 41% of IT leaders citing algorithmic errors due to insufficient or biased data as the cause of AI-related issues. Data quality is now considered the third biggest barrier to AI adoption, following security and cost concerns.
A significant number of EMEA IT professionals (43%) also believe their organizations are not moving fast enough to implement AI, partly due to challenges related to data quality and database readiness. Only 33% are confident their companies can meet the growing data demands of AI.
Rob Johnson, VP and Global Head of Solutions Engineering at SolarWinds, commented, “It’s clear that IT leaders are approaching AI with caution, given the security and privacy challenges it presents. However, organizations must take proactive measures to enhance data quality, enforce strong AI ethics, and build the right teams to lead these efforts.”
He continued, “Proactively addressing these challenges not only ensures compliance with evolving regulations but also unlocks AI’s full potential. High-quality data is crucial for reliable AI models, which ultimately lead to better decision-making and outcomes. As trust in AI grows, so will its broader adoption across industries.”
This survey underscores the importance of regulatory action and robust data practices in ensuring the safe and effective use of AI in the EMEA region.
