It doesn’t really matter how much digital technology takes over our everyday lives, nor how fast technological innovations come about, cybersecurity is and always will be one of the central concerns of both experts and users with more rudimentary knowledge when it comes to the world of IT. Now that artificial intelligence has started to open up so many new avenues of opportunity – but also new risks – feeling comfortable and safe online while taking active steps to learn about these applications is more important than ever.

Cybersecurity in the public sector: the first hurdle to overcome.

Traditionally, the processes that usually lead to the most scepticism among the general public, when it comes to cybersecurity, are those that involve government bodies and, in particular, any kind of bureaucracy or procedure that has to be done online.

According to a recent survey on how Europeans perceive the quality of their public services from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), 86% of respondents think digital government “leaves out people with less knowledge of technology”, despite the fact that more than 60% of them recognise it “brings more advantages than disadvantages” with it.

Training is power

An initial step in reversing this negative feeling would be to offer training to anyone who’s interested in the topic or who considers themselves lacking when it comes to cybersecurity know-how. Google, for example, recently chose Malaga to launch its first Cybersecurity Centre at the end of November 2023. It’s a place where the technology giant intends to offer specialist training in computer security to anyone interested in learning about it.

The goal is to help people, businesses and public bodies develop, improve or recycle their knowledge of cybersecurity. They’ve also provided the University of Malaga with funding to go towards ensuring students are up to date with the latest cybersecurity teaching and research.

Artificial intelligence: more information = less fear

It’s said that the more information you give people about something, the less likely they are to fear the risks of it, particularly when it’s something new and unknown. And if that applies to cybersecurity, it’s certainly the case when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). Naturally, the more we understand artificial intelligence, the less we’ll be vulnerable to any potential inappropriate uses of it.

AI could play a significant role in the digitalisation of our planet. But for this to succeed, public bodies and governments will have to sing its praises very loudly indeed. They’ll need to shout the virtues of AI from the rooftops to bring people along with them, but only through reliable and up-to-date information.

Provincial governments around the world are starting to wake up to the task that lies ahead, with many holding public meetings inviting citizens, as well as businesses, to explore the virtues of the technology, as well as other equally disruptive innovations. The goal is always “to put to bed any fears of what’s to come”, as one regional government IT manager, Tomas Sanchez Campo, told the media about one such initiative in Spain.

Leaving no one behind

Both cybersecurity and the potential – and limitations and risks – of artificial intelligence are topics that experts say “everyone should be taking seriously”. It could transform the pace and mentality of every business in the land in terms of productivity, but it also requires them to become aware of the responsibilities that digitalisation entails. As for dealings and interactions with technology in the home and in our personal lives, innovations such as artificial intelligence could bring about a major sea change in the way we think about and relate to technology. As we look to the future, having the right skills and knowledge of AI, cybersecurity and other similar topics will soon be just as important as learning to read and write at school.