Most Read: Agentic AI Paves Way for Sophisticated Cyberattacks; Industry Reacts to UK’s AI Opportunities Action PlanMost Read: Agentic AI Paves Way for Sophisticated Cyberattacks; Industry Reacts to UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan

Also inside, Google generative AI-powered data agents make analyzing data easier, Hyundai, Nvidia team on AI for future mobility program: CES 2025 and more

Berenice Baker, Editor

January 17, 2025

5 Min Read
A cybersecurity response team
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Here are the most-read stories on AI Business this week.

Agentic AI Paves the Way for Sophisticated Cyberattacks

Agentic AI is widely predicted to be one of the key technology themes for 2025 due to its ability to autonomously analyze data, make decisions and execute tasks. But it also presents unprecedented risks.

Gartner’s recent research report “Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2025: Agentic AI” forecasts that by 2028, 33% of enterprise software will incorporate Agentic AI, 20% of digital storefront interactions will be conducted by AI agents and 15% of day-to-day decisions will be made autonomously.

However, agentic AI is opening the door to advanced cyberattacks, including smart malware, prompt injections and malicious AI agents. Without proper guardrails, organizations face operational disruptions, governance breakdowns and reputational damage.

In this interview, Gartner distinguished vice president analyst Gary Olliffe and research vice president of AI and cybersecurity Jeremy D’Hoinne discuss how organizations can get the most from agentic AI while preventing the introduction of security vulnerabilities.

Find out more

UK Unveils AI Opportunities Action Plan: Industry Reacts

The U.K. government has unveiled its AI Opportunities Action Plan, aiming to harness AI's transformative potential across various sectors to drive economic growth, enhance public services and secure a leading position in the global AI landscape.

Related:Microsoft Cracks Down on Malicious Copilot AI Use

The plan includes a nearly $17 billion investment pledged by private companies, the creation of AI Growth Zones to accelerate supercomputer infrastructure development and initiatives to boost AI adoption across public and private sectors.

It projects substantial economic benefits, potentially adding $57 billion annually to the U.K. economy over a decade and highlights the need for public-private partnerships and collaboration to foster innovation and responsible AI development.

Announcing the moves, Prime Minister Sir Keir Stamer said: “Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country. From teachers personalizing lessons to supporting small businesses with their recordkeeping to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people.

Read what industry experts had to say

Google Generative AI-Powered Data Agents Make Analyzing Data Easier

Being able to interrogate complex data for answers to real-world questions without having to code how to do so has been the dream ever since Captain Kirk first said “Computer?” from his command chair.

Related:Quantum-Inspired Algorithms Tapped for More Efficient AI

Generative AI has finally made this interaction accessible to anyone, but not always reliably due to unchecked source data and hallucinations. Data agents bring business value to natural-language inquiries and functions by using LLMs with a company’s own data.

Google Cloud uses conversational data agents powered by its Gemini generative AI tools to help users analyze data, answer questions and perform tasks, enhancing data analysis tools like Looker and BigQuery enterprise data warehouse.

Peter Bailis, Google Cloud vice president of engineering for data analytics, explained that traditional business intelligence tools offer easy access to data via a dashboard but digging deeper can be a time-consuming and complex process.

Discover how data agents help analyze data

Hyundai, Nvidia Team on AI for Future Mobility Program: CES 2025

Hyundai and Nvidia have confirmed a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of AI in the Korean automaker’s mobility solutions.

The partnership, initially referenced in Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s CES keynote, was formalized as the Las Vegas event drew to a close, with the pair providing more detail on what the arrangement will deliver.

The companies said they will collaborate in a number of diverse areas including generative AI, digital twins and more.

Heung-Soo Kim, Hyundai’s executive vice president and head of global strategy, explained: “Hyundai Motor Group is exploring innovative approaches with AI technologies in various fields such as robotics, autonomous driving and smart factory. This partnership is set to accelerate our progress, positioning the Group as a frontrunner in driving AI-empowered mobility innovation.”

Read on

White House Issues Guidelines to Regulate Chip Licensing, AI Systems

The Biden-Harris Administration has released new guidelines to regulate chip licensing and AI systems while strengthening AI security standards. 

The Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion released Monday builds on previous chip controls by “thwarting smuggling, closing other loopholes and raising AI security standards,” according to a White House statement.

“To enhance U.S. national security and economic strength, it is essential that we do not offshore this critical technology and that the world’s AI runs on American rails. It is important to work with AI companies and foreign governments to put in place critical security and trust standards as they build out their AI ecosystems.”

The rule builds on previous regulations aimed at protecting national security including an August 2023 executive order limiting U.S. investments in Chinese companies involved in “national security sensitive technologies,” referring to certain AI systems, semiconductors and microelectronics and quantum information technologies. It also follows 2022 restrictions imposed on exports of AI-focused semiconductors and related equipment to China.

Find out the rule's six key actions

About the Author

Berenice Baker

Editor, Enter Quantum

Berenice is the editor of Enter Quantum and co-editor of AI Business. Berenice has a background in IT and 20 years of experience as a technology journalist.

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