Exclusive: Where AI cybersecurity will be by 2025

Artificial intelligence is one of the most promising technologies in modern cybersecurity. Though it’s still a relatively new technology, AI has seen significant adoption in the cybersecurity industry. As advanced cyber threats continue to grow, AI may end up driving the future of cybersecurity.

AI cybersecurity is already essential in some market segments, albeit not all of them. The telecommunications industry is particularly reliant on it, with 80% of industry professionals saying they couldn’t respond to cyberattacks without it. AI in cybersecurity will continue to become an essential technology, affecting a variety of sectors.

Though nothing is certain in an industry as dynamic as cybersecurity, AI will almost certainly surge.

General market growth

The value of AI cybersecurity will surpass the overall cybersecurity market growth in the next few years. Right now, the AI cybersecurity market is worth roughly US$12 billion, compared to the US$173 billion value of the industry as a whole, meaning AI accounts for almost 7% of the total market value.

By 2025, experts expect that AI cybersecurity will reach US$30.5 billion and the overall industry to reach US$251 billion. With these figures, AI will make up roughly 12% of the market in 2025. Both will see substantial growth, but AI will grow at a faster rate.

The overall cybersecurity market expansion seen in this model is impressive, but AI’s value will more than double. These numbers show that AI will become an increasingly central part of cybersecurity over the next five years.

Growing segments and technologies

Within AI cybersecurity technologies, natural language processing (NLP) will see some of the fastest development. Right now, professionals use NLP in things like email filters that recognise spam or phishing. As these threats keep growing, NLP will play a significant role in the future of cybersecurity.

Cloud-based AI systems will also be a more central part of cybersecurity in 2025. Cloud adoption has been climbing for a while and as businesses rely more on the cloud, they’ll need cloud-native solutions to secure it. As a result, cloud-based systems will account for a more substantial portion of AI cybersecurity in 2025.

The value of specific security technologies usually reflects a trend in the threats that businesses face. As a result, any picture of where AI cybersecurity will be in 2025 that doesn’t include changes in cyber threats is incomplete.

Emerging threats

Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities are already one of the most pressing cyber threats today. This trend will continue in 2025 as IoT adoption keeps climbing, so AI cybersecurity solutions will focus on that. Only 53% of AI cybersecurity users employ it with IoT devices in 2020, but by 2025, that number will be much higher.

Mobile devices will be the leading concern in the future of cybersecurity and that includes more than just the IoT. As smartphone capabilities rise, they’ll present a more tempting target for cybercriminals. As a result, smartphone cybersecurity will be a more prevalent issue in 2025.

The rise of the IoT and the growing concerns of smartphone security go hand in hand. As people can access more IoT devices with their phones, a hacker can do more if they gain entry to a smartphone.

Preparing for cybersecurity in the future

The world is becoming increasingly digital, so the demand for cybersecurity as a whole is expanding. Given its potential, though, it seems that the future of cybersecurity will depend on AI. AI cybersecurity is already a critical technology, but by 2025, its role will be even more significant.

Cybercriminals are a dynamic group, so most estimates over what threats will emerge aren’t definite. Looking at current trends, though, it seems AI presents the best defence against future threats.

Devin Partida is a technology writer and the Editor-in-Chief of the digital magazine, ReHack.com. To read more from Devin, check out the site.