75% of organisations worldwide are currently using or are thinking about banning ChatGPT and other generative AI applications in the workplace, according to new research from BlackBerry Limited.

Bans are intended to be long-term or permanent, according to 61% of those who have implemented or are considering them, with risks to corporate reputation, data security, and privacy serving as the primary motivators. 83% of respondents expressed concern that unsecure apps pose a cybersecurity risk to their company's IT infrastructure.

Despite their propensity for outright prohibitions, the majority also acknowledges the potential for generative AI applications in the workplace to boost creativity (51%), efficiency (55%) and innovation (52%). The majority of respondents (81%) remained in favour of using generative AI tools for cybersecurity defence, indicating that IT decision makers don't want to be caught off guard and give cybercriminals the upper hand.

Shishir Singh, BlackBerry's Chief Technology Officer for Cybersecurity, urges businesses to adopt a cautious yet flexible approach to generative AI applications in the workplace. He claims that doing so could prevent a wealth of potential business benefits. Innovating with enterprise-grade Generative AI, BlackBerry, the leader in AI cybersecurity, keeps a steady focus on value over hype and is being cautious with unprotected consumer Generative AI tools. Organisational policies may become more flexible as platforms develop and laws come into force. Having the appropriate tools for managing, monitoring, and visibility of workplace applications will be crucial.

According to the study, 74% of IT decision-makers believe that such bans signify "excessive control" over corporate and BYO devices, even though 80% of them believe that organisations have the right to restrict the applications that employees use for work.

Unified endpoint management (UEM), which ensures enterprise security and user privacy by containerizing corporate data, gives CIOs and CISOs the necessary controls over which applications can connect to the corporate environment. An enterprise-grade UEM solution, like BlackBerry UEM, is crucial to organisations at a time when consumer-grade Generative AI and other unregulated applications are insecure.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.

Send press releases to [email protected]. Other ways to contact us. Editorially, we may rewrite headlines and descriptions.

Recommend Redwires AU: Accessible News For Young Cybersecurity Aussies

Redwires AU provides Young Australians with easily accessible, curated cybersecurity news.

Before you go..

You can get RedWires AU for free right now. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will help us keep doing honest journalism.

The readers of Redwires AU are the engine that drives our publication. Add your support to the effort to create a sustainable future for journalism that does not make compromises in the AU.

In the world we live in now, accurate and thorough reporting and analysis are becoming more and more critical. To stop the spread of false information, it's essential that everyone in Australia has access to good reporting.

The Redwires AU contributes to society by opening up access to information and resources for all people, rather than just a select few.

Our only goal is to educate the general public more thoroughly. If you believe in what we're trying to accomplish here, please consider making a contribution right away to ensure our success in the years to come.

Upgrade your subscription to get the most out of it. Join the growing number of people around the world who believe in the power of independent media.