European IT professionals are uncertain about their ability to detect AI misinformation

62% of respondents to ISACA’s recent 2024 AI Pulse Poll believe AI will have a positive impact on audit/assurance in the next year – the highest number compared to other domains like risk, compliance, security, IT strategy/governance, and privacy.

While a majority (79%) of respondents agree many jobs will be modified due to AI in the next five years, the research also revealed some uncertainties around AI. 38% of respondents believe that AI will have a negative impact on privacy as a professional domain in the next year, and 28% believe AI will have a negative impact on security.

Additionally, one fifth (19%) of respondents indicate they are not at all confident in their ability to detect AI-powered misinformation and a similar percent (20%) echoed this lack of confidence in their company’s abilities.

However, with the pulse poll finding that 25% of respondents say that their organisation is considering increasing those AI jobs, and that 86% say they will need AI training within two years to help them retain their roles or advance their careers, it is apparent that even in the midst of uncertainty, education and training has become increasingly important for professionals to keep pace.

Chris Dimitriadis, Chief Global Strategy Officer at ISACA, said: “As AI continues to change many professions in fields across IT, from cybersecurity to risk and privacy, it’s crucial that we respond to the changing landscape and understand AI's applications and implications. To both expand their professional knowledge and futureproof their careers, IT and digital trust professionals at all career stages should explore the range of tools at their disposal to stay informed and relevant when it comes to emerging technologies like AI.”

With AI holding significant potential for the IT audit profession, ISACA has launched an introductory course to AI for auditors, alongside other new online, self-paced AI courses on ethics and machine learning for business enablement, as part of its expanding AI education offerings.

The new courses, which can be accessed through ISACA’s online portal at the learner’s convenience and offer CPE, include:

· Introduction to AI for Auditors: Instils essential AI concepts relevant to auditing, delving into specific AI techniques, AI-powered tools and systems, and ethical considerations as they relate to audit.

· Ethical Perspectives in AI: Implications, Principles, and Social Dynamic: Examines the ethical consequences associated with AI use, the ethical principles that should be considered in the development and adoption of AI, and the impacts AI could have on society.

· Machine Learning for Business Enablement: Explores how to effectively evaluate machine learning solutions, better assess risk, and aid responsible adoption, preparing professionals to better support enterprise adoption and use.

These follow the recent launches of additional courses AI Essentials, Auditing Generative AI: Strategy, Analysis and Risk Mitigation, and AI Governance: Principles, Strategies and Business Alignment.

They join additional AI-focused resources from ISACA, including:

· Artificial Intelligence: A Primer on Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Neural Networks

· Artificial Intelligence Audit Toolkit

· Using the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework to Achieve Trustworthy AI white paper

· An AI acceptable use policy template (one of 15 IS/IT policies available in ISACA’s Policy Template Library)