Manufacturing AI Risks: Employee Use Top Concern

New data reveals a significant concern among manufacturing security professionals. Seventy-eight percent are worried about employees using AI agents, making it their top concern. Security teams are also focused on sensitive data exposure, a worry for 60%, and accidental policy violations, cited by 59%. Here's the thing: 76% are already impacted by AI-powered threats, and 90% believe AI will increase the success of social engineering attacks. What's particularly striking is that nearly half, 49%, are worried about adaptive malware that evolves in real-time. This is 9% higher than the average across all industries. This is followed by concerns about automated vulnerability scanning at 48%, and hyper-personalized phishing campaigns at 46%. Despite these growing concerns, more than half, 51%, say they are not adequately prepared for AI-driven threats. Only 37% have formal policies for AI deployment. The bottom line: 91% of these professionals want to understand how AI makes decisions before trusting it. This highlights a critical need for better preparation and clear guidelines in the face of evolving AI risks.