In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “The Dark Side Of Artificial Intelligence: Unleashing The Challenges For Global Security Risk Management,” presented by Jeremy Prout, CPP, Security Director at International SOS, Meghna Roy, VP, Product Management at Ontic, and Stefanie Drysdale, Senior Vice President at Prescient. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2025!
Q: How did you become interested in your topic?
SD: AI touches absolutely everything we do now, and security, cybersecurity, and executive protection are no exceptions to that. Whether it’s being used as an attack tool aimed at us, or we are using it to defend, it’s become such an important part of all our lives and should be factored into our programs.
Q: Tell us about your presentation and why security professionals should have this topic on their radar.
JP: Our presentation aims to explore the double-edged sword which is AI in the security space. AI can be a force multiplier for security leaders, allowing for better threat detection, faster decision making and generally improving the overall efficiency of a security department. But our adversaries can also weaponize it with deep-fake misinformation and a myriad of other creative chaoctic tactics. We want to help security professionals understand the capabilities and risks of AI, in order to help organizations in a global, dynamic threat landscape.
Q: What advice would you give security professionals interested in this topic?
MR: My advice would be to embrace AI, but with intentionality and vigilance. The opportunities with AI within the security industry are enormous: AI can augment threat detection, automate routine assessments, provide predictive insights, generate reports in minutes, and sift through mountains of data in ways that traditional tools and practitioners simply can’t. AI can be a massive force multiplier for security teams, especially those that are small or understaffed. However, the power of AI comes with new responsibilities. Security professionals must critically evaluate the quality and bias of the data feeding these systems, ensure transparency in how AI-driven decisions are made, and stay ahead of the evolving regulatory landscape across different jurisdictions.
Start with well-scoped, high-impact use cases. Focus on areas where AI can immediately enhance your organization’s situational awareness or decision-making, such as early threat detection, detecting anomalies in large amounts of data, or real-time intelligence gathering. Avoid trying to “AI everything” out of the gate, but rather take a pragmatic approach to implementing this technology. The most successful implementations require a human element of decision-making where AI complements, rather than replaces, expert judgment. AI is a powerful tool, but it’s your expertise and values that will ensure it’s used responsibly and effectively.
Q: Why do you attend GSX?
JP: I’ve been going to GSX since 2018 and plan to continue that trend for my career. I attend to understand two things; what challenges are we as Security Professionals struggling with and what solutions can we brought to bear. Every year there is a new threat or concept that we collectively need to address and that is why I attend.
SD: Since my very first GSX several years ago, I’ve been so grateful to meet so many brilliant minds in our industry and learn from them. The conference has provided both me, as well as our company, an opportunity to grow and engage in the broader industry.
MR: I attend GSX because it brings together a diverse and experienced community of security professionals, from corporate security leaders to law enforcement, technologists, and risk managers. For me, it’s an opportunity to listen directly to the challenges our industry is facing, learn how organizations are evolving their approaches to managing and mitigating threats, and explore how innovation and emerging technology can support those on the front lines of keeping people and assets safe.
It’s also a great opportunity for me to meet face-to-face with Ontic’s clients and partners and hear from them about what’s working and what’s not, what they would like to see from us, and what their priorities are. I walk away from every GSX with new insights and inspiration, a renewed sense of purpose, and a deeper understanding of how Ontic can continue building products that meet the operational demands of security teams globally.