As the world marks AI Appreciation Day, cybersecurity and data leaders are urging organisations to shift from passive admiration to proactive responsibility, highlighting both the immense promise and the growing peril artificial intelligence presents in today’s digital age.

Artificial intelligence has become deeply woven into everyday life – whether in navigating city streets, receiving personalised content, or advancing healthcare outcomes. But the same intelligence powering innovation is also being harnessed for deception, manipulation, and fraud.

The Identity Crisis of AI: Trust at a Tipping Point

“AI Appreciation Day is a timely reminder of the incredible promise and growing complexity that AI brings to our digital world,” said Jasie Fon, Regional Vice President, Asia at Ping Identity. Fon warned that while AI can power defences such as real-time risk detection and adaptive authentication, it also enables threats like deepfakes and autonomous agents capable of impersonating humans online.

“Without the right safeguards, these technologies risk eroding the trust that underpins everything from financial services to healthcare,” Fon noted, urging organisations to rethink identity frameworks to handle not only human users but also intelligent agents acting on their behalf.

From Helper to Hacker: AI’s Dual Nature in Cybersecurity

Bernard Montel, EMEA Technical Director and Security Strategist at Tenable, echoed similar concerns. He pointed to a growing wave of AI-powered cyberthreats – ranging from convincingly forged voice and video scams to AI-generated malware exploiting known vulnerabilities.

“AI is proving invaluable in cybersecurity, analysing vast datasets to distinguish threats and automating repetitive tasks to maintain secure infrastructures,” said Montel. But he stressed that defence must evolve just as quickly: “Preemptive exposure management and robust employee education are vital to outpace these AI-driven threats.”

Montel urged organisations to view AI as a force multiplier rather than a replacement, advocating for systems where AI handles repetitive tasks, freeing up human talent for creative and ethical decision-making.

Asia Pacific Leads AI Adoption – but Data Remains the Backbone

Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, the business integration of generative and agentic AI is accelerating, according to Daniel Hein, Field CTO at Informatica Asia Pacific & Japan.

“AI goes beyond just a tool – it’s a vital resource,” said Hein. “In APAC, we’re seeing how generative AI breaks down knowledge barriers and how agentic AI is optimising decision-making across energy, finance, and other sectors.”

Hein emphasised that continuous upskilling, reskilling, and a strong foundation in data infrastructure are essential to sustain AI’s momentum. “AI’s effectiveness will hinge on a robust data foundation that enables advanced analytics and reliable model performance,” he said.

Call to Action: Augment, Defend, and Educate

All three experts aligned on a shared message this AI Appreciation Day: celebrate the technology, but stay vigilant. Their recommendations include:

• Invest in AI for Augmentation: Enhance human decision-making by automating the mundane.
• Strengthen Cyber Defences: Proactively manage vulnerabilities and improve employee awareness of AI-led threats.
• Champion Ethical AI: Create frameworks that ensure responsible development and deployment.

As AI continues to evolve, trust, education, and secure infrastructure will determine whether it becomes a catalyst for progress – or a liability for society.