Main uses of AI in cybersecurity in North America 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing cybersecurity practices, with monitoring network traffic emerging as the top use case in North America. A 2024 survey revealed that 54 percent of U.S. respondents identified this application as their primary AI-enabled cybersecurity strategy. Other prominent use cases include generating defense tests, predicting future breaches, and analyzing user behavior patterns, each cited by nearly half of the respondents.

Rapid growth and global adoption

The AI cybersecurity market is poised for substantial expansion in the coming years. Valued at 24.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, it is projected to double by 2026 and reach nearly 134 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. This growth is driven by increasing recognition of AI's potential in enhancing cybersecurity measures worldwide. Australia, for instance, has shown the most enthusiasm for AI's application in this field, while Italy has expressed a more cautious outlook. 

Opportunities and challenges

As AI becomes more integrated into cybersecurity practices, it brings both opportunities and challenges. Generative AI is being widely used to augment common operational tasks and speed up report writing and incident reporting. However, concerns persist about the potential risks associated with AI adoption. Over half of organizations worldwide worry that implementing generative AI could expose them to greater cybersecurity threats. Additionally, nearly half of global business and cyber leaders are concerned about the advancement of adversarial capabilities, such as AI-powered phishing and malware development.