AI is everywhere.

Everybody is talking about AI – people, companies, vendors and investors.

It’s an exciting time for learning, but a lot is going on.

I am so overwhelmed that writing this article word by word and drawing doodles are my meditation activities, making me feel like a monk. But someone somewhere in the world is already making an AI Monk model while I write this sentence.

There is a FOMO (fear of missing out).

Vendors want to enable the AI module to impress the clients.

Companies wish to allocate their budget so they don’t get left behind.

Professionals are rushing for AI certifications.

AI start-ups are racing to build products powered by ChatGPT, Copilot or similar models.

Venture capitalists want to invest in the next big player.

Everybody wants to bake the AI pancake. Nobody knows the ingrediants.

While AI is becoming a centre of attraction, it reminds me of the great quote from Mark Twain,

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

No matter how big the chaos is, there is always a way. It means to pause and reflect on fundamentals.

At the recent CISO Brisbane event, Gaurav Vikash, Head of Security, raised a key question:”

Everyone’s talking about AI as a force multiplier. But are we multiplying the wrong things?

While organisations rush for fancy AI modules, attackers like Scattered Spider exploit the weakest identity surface.

AI keeps business relevant, but skipping the basics doesn’t make sense.

Bake the bread before you decorate the pancake.

Gaurav’s conversation with the CISOs brought key insights to our attention that inspired me to articulate and create AI digital art.

  1. Everybody wants to enable AI where it’s easy, but nobody wants to address the need.
  2. The AI budget is getting attention, but the foundational security gap is being ignored.

It’s easy to plug in a large language model (LLM), but challenging to clarify, “What problem am I solving?”

Vendors love to inject AI products into the market as fast as possible.

Fear and competition drive business more than innovation.

Fear does not have a source. Fear has patterns.

The pattern nowadays is that we have to do something with AI because everyone else is.

The existing trigger is outside-in, not inside-out.

The companies are allocating AI budgets for next quarter, but there is a big gap in security fundamentals.

Strengthen the organisation’s identity before investing in AI.

Before diving into the AI world, it’s essential to zoom out, assess the situation, and take a step back.

If you are a manager, look at the fundamental security gaps.

If you are a professional, invest time learning the fundamentals of AI governance, privacy, and ethical use. AI makes many decisions, so it’s crucial to understand how it concludes its opinions.

My water metaphor is not limited to the AI budget. It applies to sharpening the fundamentals before moving on to advanced topics. I love sticking to the basics.

Vendors will not stop.

Investors have a massive pool of money.

More is on the way.

Embrace the change.

AI is inevitable. But you can always find your way.

Remember, AI is evolving. So are humans.

I blend cybersecurity with creative art and visual storytelling.

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