Philippine businesses are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence but remain unprepared to secure their operations, experts warn. As companies integrate AI technologies, cybersecurity strategies are lagging behind, creating vulnerabilities that could hinder progress and expose sensitive data.
“Many organizations are racing to adopt AI but are not embedding cybersecurity into their AI lifecycle,” said a senior executive from a global cybersecurity firm. “This lack of preparedness risks opening new attack surfaces that adversaries can exploit.”
Recent findings highlight the gap between AI adoption and security readiness. Over 70% of local firms have launched AI initiatives, yet fewer than 60% have established formal governance frameworks to manage AI-related data risks. Nearly 90% reported challenges stemming from unregulated internal integrations, complicating efforts to maintain control over systems.
Cybersecurity leaders emphasize that AI and data protection must be developed in tandem. “Security cannot be an afterthought,” stated a technical expert. “From the earliest stages of AI development, safeguards must be integrated to prevent vulnerabilities from arising later.”
The urgency is underscored by evolving threats. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI to accelerate attacks, with breach timelines expanding significantly. Automated scanning tools now identify software vulnerabilities within minutes of public disclosure, while supply chain attacks have surged fourfold in recent years.
Industry stakeholders are collaborating with public and private sectors to establish robust policies. However, current measures remain in early development, with security protocols for AI systems described as “infantile” compared to regional peers.
Global projections indicate the Philippines’ AI market could grow nearly fivefold by 2030. Yet without immediate improvements in cybersecurity infrastructure, businesses risk falling behind in both innovation and safety, experts caution. “The stakes are high,” one leader said. “Securing AI must be foundational, not an add-on.”
