“We can only build a prosperous future if we start from secure foundations,” CEO of Microsoft UK, Clare Barclay said in Microsoft’s new report on the intersections of AI and cybersecurity.

According to the tech giant, UK organisations risk losing out on the benefits of AI if they do not invest in a robust and steadfast cybersecurity infrastructure.

Just as businesses and governments are keen to tap into AI’s potential as the defining technology of our time, so are bad actors posing a threat to our personal and national security. Traditional add-on security solutions can no long keep pace with the threats posed by cybercriminals.

To lead in AI, trust in the technology is integral. Secure foundations will be critical for AI adoption.

Despite steps to integrate safety into AI adoption, bad acts are already leveraging AI to execute a higher number of more sophisticated and rapid attacks, according to the report.

The risk level is only going to increase, Microsoft claims, and British organisations need to be ready to fight fire with fire.

The report, Mission Critical: Unlocking the UK AI Opportunity Through Cybersecurity, created in collaboration with Dr Chris Brauer at Goldsmiths, University of London, claims that in order for the UK to reach its ambition of becoming an AI superpower, it must first cement its position as a ‘cybersecurity superpower’.

According to the report, 89% of UK organisations are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, including 39% deemed as high risk.

But while AI poses threats, it also poses opportunities.

Fighting Fire with Fire

AI-powered cyber-attacks can threaten critical infrastructure, leak sensitive data, and commit fraud. But AI can also be used to fight these increasingly sophisticated attacks.

AI’s ability to harness larger datasets can allow it to respond rapidly and smartly to potential threats, and it can even offer automatic responses.

Yet, the report shows that about a quarter (27%) of UK organisations are currently employing AI to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, with the rest missing out on a critical technology to bolster their defence.

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“Cyber-criminals, some armed with the resources of a nation state, are ‘tooling up’ with AI to increase the sophistication and intensity of their attacks,” says Paul Kelly, director of the security business group at Microsoft UK.

“This research outlines 52 billion reasons for organisational leaders to ‘fight fire with fire’. The same AI technologies can help leaders better secure their organisation and tip the balance back in their favour. AI has the potential to make your business and data more secure, but also, if a cyberattack were to occur, to lessen the impact on your bottom line.”

These 52 reasons are monetary – Microsoft estimates that stronger cybersecurity could potentially save the UK economy £52 billion a year.

Cyber-attacks currently cost the UK an estimated £87 billion per year, with such attacks increasing in number and complexity.

Businesses that incorporate AI into their security strategy might suffer 20% lower financial losses after a successful attack as well.

The global AI cybersecurity market is set to hit $135bn (£105bn) by 2030, meaning that the 73% of UK organisations neglecting to adopt AI in their cyber defences could be hurting the UK’s chances to benefit from this burgeoning industry.

Becoming an AI Superpower

With the AI leadership race in full swing, the UK needs to be quick out the gate.

69% of the decision-makers who contributed to the report said that the UK urgently needs stronger cybersecurity defences to become a global AI leader.

With that being said, Microsoft has released a blueprint to uphold cyber and AI success.

Supporting the widespread adoption of AI in cybersecurity is paramount – rather than turning away from the tech in fear, organisations must embrace it – fast – to keep up with emerging threats.

Targeted investment and cultivating talent is also key – amid a dramatic skills shortage in cybersecurity, training and skills initiatives will be crucial in setting the UK on a path to lead in the AI revolution.

Fostering research and knowledge sharing, as well as simple and safe adoption, is critical to ensure that AI is adopted safely to minimise risk, ensuring it benefits organisations rather than endangering them.

“The UK has phenomenal potential to lead the world in the use of AI – an unprecedented opportunity to supercharge our economy and transform our public services,” Dr Chris Brauer said. “But that future must be built on secure foundations. To become an AI superpower, the UK must maintain its position as a cybersecurity superpower. With so many organisations shown to be vulnerable to cybercrime, our research surfaces both the urgency of the issue, and useful actions that leaders can take to boost the country’s cyber resilience.”