UK security chiefs are voicing urgent concerns about Chinese AI company DeepSeek, with 81% of CISOs calling for swift government regulation. An Absolute Security survey of 250 CISOs showed strong fears that unregulated AI could drive a national cyber emergency.
The report revealed 34% of CISOs have banned AI tools outright, while 30% have stopped specific projects due to security risks. DeepSeek’s potential to expose sensitive data and fuel cyberattacks is a central worry. Sixty percent expect rising attack volumes, and 42% now see AI as a net threat.
Absolute Security’s Andy Ward said AI systems like DeepSeek are evolving faster than organisations’ ability to defend, exposing a preparedness gap. Nearly half of CISOs admitted they are not ready for AI-driven threats. Without oversight, they fear broad economic impact.
Despite risks, businesses are investing in safe AI adoption. Eighty-four percent are prioritising AI hiring, and 80% are training executives to strengthen expertise while delaying risky deployments.
The consensus from security leaders: AI should not be banned, but safely enabled. They call for government regulation, workforce development, and a national AI strategy to prevent innovation from turning into crisis.
