The rapid advancement of Generative AI (GenAI) technologies is transforming the landscape of software development, offering developers powerful tools to enhance productivity and innovation. However, as these AI code assistants become more integrated into development workflows, they also introduce significant risks that organizations must address to safeguard their software products and data.

According to the 2024 Gartner® Cybersecurity Turbulence in 2024: 7 Forces That Will Threaten Your Organization’s Future, “By 2026, 40% of developers using AI code assistants will unknowingly allow vulnerable code into the organizations’ software products.​” This alarming statistic underscores the urgency for businesses to reevaluate how they incorporate AI into their development processes and the importance of implementing robust security governance to mitigate these risks.

The Accelerating Adoption of GenAI Technologies

The adoption of GenAI technologies is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Over the next 24 months, we expect to see a widespread proliferation of these technologies across various

third-party products and extensions. Organizations are scrambling to understand where and how GenAI can be effectively deployed, with many eager to leverage its potential to stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

However, as organizations rush to integrate AI into their operations, they often overlook the security implications. GenAI can expose businesses to a range of vulnerabilities, including data loss, intellectual property violations, and the spread of misinformation or disinformation due to AI hallucinations. Moreover, prompt injection attacks—a type of cyber threat where attackers manipulate AI-generated outputs—pose a significant risk to organizations relying on these technologies.

The Need for Security Governance

To combat these risks, security governance must become a priority for any organization using GenAI. Without proper oversight, the very tools designed to help developers could become a source of major security breaches. To effectively mitigate the risks associated with GenAI, organizations should consider implementing the following guidelines:

1. Clear Internal Guidelines on AI Use

Organizations should establish and enforce clear internal guidelines on the use of AI tools, especially concerning the removal of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from datasets and the safeguarding against prompt injection attacks. These guidelines should be designed to ensure that AI-generated code does not inadvertently introduce vulnerabilities into software products or compromise sensitive data.

2.Media Monitoring and Threat Intelligence Capabilities

To protect against AI-related leaks and other security breaches, organizations should invest in robust media monitoring and threat intelligence capabilities. These tools can help detect and respond to potential threats in real-time, allowing businesses to act quickly to mitigate any risks posed by AI-generated content or other AI-driven activities.

3.Integrated Multimodal Deepfake Detection

As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, the risk of deepfake-related threats also increases. To protect against this, organizations should integrate multimodal deepfake detection capabilities into their online communication channels. Partnering with a verified and trusted deepfake detection provider can ensure that any potentially harmful AI-generated content is identified and addressed before it can cause damage.

Conclusion: A Critical Moment for Action

The integration of GenAI into software development is not a future possibility—it is happening now, and its impact is expected to grow exponentially in the coming months. The potential for AI code assistants to introduce vulnerabilities into software products is a critical issue that organizations must address immediately.

By 2026, nearly half of developers using these tools may unknowingly compromise their organizations' security. To prevent this, businesses must take proactive steps to govern the use of GenAI technologies, ensuring that innovation does not come at the cost of security. 

Taking these steps will not only help safeguard your organization against potential threats but also position your company as a leader in the responsible and secure use of AI technologies.

Gartner, Cybersecurity Turbulence in 2024: 7 Forces That Will Threaten Your Organization’s Future, By Marty Resnick, Deepti Gopal et.al., 23 August 2024.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.