Following the paths of the steam engine, the internet, and the smartphone, gen AI has the potential to propel the newest transformation of how people work and how organizations operate. While much attention has been paid to gen AI’s rise over the past two years, most companies are just beginning their AI journeys. In fact, McKinsey research finds that only 1 percent of leaders report that their organizations have achieved maturity in their AI deployment—and they continue to ask lots of questions about the technology, on everything from organizing data and finding the right partners to balancing risk and value creation. This week, we look at how organizations can use gen AI to empower their employees and produce long-term value.

STAYING SAFE

Gen AI’s potential for great rewards also comes with some great risks. Gen AI-powered digital agents, which can execute tasks independently, may help people enhance the quality of their work. But tech industry observers also fear that these tools may present a major cybersecurity threat. McKinsey’s Justin Greis and Marc Sorel and coauthors note that gen AI represents a significant opportunity for cybersecurity solutions providers. “For those charged with keeping organizations safe, these new AI-based threats pose an unprecedented challenge—they are more sophisticated, unrelenting, and shifting,” they say. It’s critical for leaders in areas such as product development, compliance, risk, and operations to adopt AI guardrails to ensure the technology is used safely and responsibly. Guardrails can help organizations ensure AI-generated content is appropriate and accurate, protect against privacy and security breaches, comply with regulations, and maintain trust with customers.

Lead by thinking bigger about AI.