The Growing Concern of Climate Change

The effects of climate change are no longer debatable. Rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events are just a few of the many alarming signs that our planet is in peril. As the world grapples with this crisis, one sector is emerging as a key player in the fight against climate change: technology. Environmental activism, once a niche interest, is now a global movement, and technology is at its forefront.

The Power of Technology

In the past decade, technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate. From social media to mobile devices, the impact of technology on our daily lives cannot be overstated. In the context of environmental activism, technology has proven to be a game-changer. From data analysis to social media campaigns, technology is empowering individuals to make a difference.

From Data to Action

Data analysis has become a vital tool in the fight against climate change. With the power of big data, scientists and researchers can identify patterns, trends, and potential solutions to environmental issues. This information can be used to inform policy, drive innovation, and engage the public. For instance, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses satellite imagery to monitor deforestation, allowing for targeted conservation efforts.

Social Media for Social Change

Social media has transformed the way we communicate, and environmental activism is no exception. Social media platforms have become a powerful tool for raising awareness, mobilizing support, and driving action. Online campaigns can reach a global audience, mobilize grassroots movements, and put pressure on policymakers.

Crowdsourcing for a Cause

Crowdsourcing, the practice of gathering information or resources from a large number of people, is another key area where technology is making a difference. Crowdfunding platforms, such as GoFundMe or Kickstarter, have enabled individuals to raise money for environmental projects, from reforestation initiatives to wildlife conservation efforts.

Technological Innovations for Sustainable Living

Technological innovations are also transforming the way we live and interact with our environment. From electric vehicles to smart grids, sustainable technologies are revolutionizing the way we consume energy, reduce waste, and protect the planet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, technology has become a vital component in the fight against climate change. From data analysis to social media campaigns, crowdsourcing, and innovative technologies, the possibilities for environmental activism are endless. As we move forward, it is crucial to continue leveraging these technologies to drive positive change.

FAQs

Q: What role can I play in environmental activism?

A: Everyone can play a role in environmental activism, from reducing personal carbon footprint to supporting organizations and initiatives that align with your values.

Q: How can I get involved in environmental activism?

A: You can start by researching local organizations, attending events, and engaging in online discussions. You can also support environmental policies and candidates that prioritize climate action.

Q: What are some simple ways to reduce my carbon footprint?

A: Simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint include using public transportation, carpooling, using energy-efficient appliances, and reducing meat consumption.

Q: What are some ways to raise awareness about environmental issues?

A: Raising awareness about environmental issues can be done through social media campaigns, attending events, and engaging in conversations with friends and family.

Q: What are some ways to support environmental activism?

A: You can support environmental activism by donating to organizations, volunteering, and spreading the word about important environmental issues.

Q: What are some ways to reduce waste?

A: Reducing waste can be achieved by recycling, composting, and avoiding single-use plastics.

Agents Need Organization, Too

The Rise of Agentic AI

This year’s hot topic is agentic AI, and the specific tasks or services that AI agents can accomplish with minimum human intervention. The question is, how prepared are organizations to make AI agents work as intended?

The State of Agentic AI

A recent KMPG survey shows that more than half (51%) of organizations are exploring the use of AI agents, while another 37% are piloting AI agents. However, only 12% have deployed AI agents for use. Agentic AI may provide a path forward to returns on AI investments. "Faced with growing economic pressures, investor expectations, and the need for greater efficiency, business leaders are earnestly working to match their genAI goals with feasible implementation strategies," the KMPG authors stated.

Preparing for Agentic AI

Companies and their technology teams "are not quite ready, but there’s appetite from both technology teams and business teams to lean in," said Rodrigo Madanes, global innovation AI officer for EY. Two stages are necessary to prepare: formulating an agentic AI strategy and setting up infrastructure to implement agents – an agentic AI framework – following compliance processes.

Empowering, Delegating, and Verifying AI Agents

Michele Franceschini, head of AI communications engineering at Bloomberg, emphasized the importance of empowering, delegating, and verifying AI agents. "Empowering AI agents means ensuring they have access to the key elements they need to operate effectively," he explained. "Common examples are data and analytics. Are your data and analytics accessible programmatically? Is your data well-governed, clean, and managed scalably?"

Delegation and Verification

Delegation, another fundamental management tenet, is also essential to managing organizations of AI agents. "Delegation requires trust, and one key difference with agentic AI workflows is that AI agents are not perfect and are nondeterministic," said Franceschini. "The goal then becomes to build a robust delegation network utilizing imperfect, nondeterministic agents and a key challenge is that most engineering organizations require a cultural shift to accomplish this."

The Promise of Agentic AI

When properly managed, AI agents can prove to be really good workers. "Imagine a world where your best employee amplifies your work, learns faster than anyone else on your team, and helps you deliver assets like videos with unmatched speed and precision," said Chris Savage, CEO and co-founder at Wistia. "That’s the promise of agentic AI – digital teammates designed to learn from you, adapt to your needs, and revolutionize the way work gets done."

The Need for Cultural Shift

At the same time, a cultural shift is needed to help the productivity of AI agents measure up. "I believe most companies are not ready to support agentic AI because it fundamentally changes the workflow and how that set of actions is handled between humans and machines," said Arnab Mishra, CEO at Xactly. "I also think that most employees have not been thoroughly educated yet on how to truly understand how AI can help them do their jobs better, and thus are likely to be resistant to change."

Conclusion

Agentic AI has the potential to revolutionize the way work gets done, but it requires a cultural shift and a well-thought-out strategy. Organizations must empower, delegate, and verify AI agents to ensure they are working effectively. "The winners will be the companies that use it to go faster. The ability to delegate routine tasks to AI so humans can focus on work that requires creativity, strategy, and empathy will be a massive differentiator," said Savage.

FAQs

• What is agentic AI?
  Agentic AI refers to the use of artificial intelligence agents that can accomplish specific tasks or services with minimum human intervention.
• How prepared are organizations for agentic AI?
  According to a recent KMPG survey, more than half of organizations are exploring the use of AI agents, while another 37% are piloting AI agents. However, only 12% have deployed AI agents for use.
• What are the key elements to prepare for agentic AI?
  Empowering, delegating, and verifying AI agents are crucial to ensure they operate effectively.

Ignoring The Role Of AI In Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence is changing the game when it comes to cyber-attacks and cyber defense. Increasingly, criminals are able to use commonly available tools to launch sophisticated phishing scams, going as far as digitally replicating faces and voices in order to trick security systems. They can also use AI-powered networking attacks that adapt in real-time to evade security systems.

Fortunately, businesses can use AI themselves, too, to counter AI attacks. AI-based monitoring, detection of anomalous network activity, and automated defense systems should be included in every business’s cybersecurity tool kit. And security strategies and playbooks should be frequently updated in response to newly emerging threats.

Not Having An Incident Response Plan In Place

When a cyberattack hits a company that has no clear response plan in place, the result is inevitably chaos. For many years, businesses have neglected to do this and may well have gotten away with it, as the chances of being targeted by attackers were slim. Today, that’s a luxury we can’t afford, as attacks become more frequent, sophisticated and costly.

Ransom payments, legal fees, fines for data breaches and reputational harm can bring a business down. But these risks can all be mitigated with a response plan, so when disaster strikes, everyone at least knows how to minimize the damage and get the show back on the road.

An Underprepared Workforce

With the proliferation of social networking attacks, unaware and undertrained employees are often the weakest link in the chain. So it’s no surprise that they are frequent targets. AI-powered phishing attacks and deepfakes are all very new threats, so we can’t expect that everyone is going to be wise to them unless they’re trained.

Continuous, ongoing implementation of cybersecurity training is essential, not just for staff with direct access to critical backend systems but for anyone who might be vulnerable to unwittingly providing backdoor access. Employers can conduct simulated phishing tests to measure the level of awareness across a workforce and provide workshops where staff are updated on new threats as they emerge.

Underestimating Insider Threats

It’s often easy for businesses to focus on preventing outsiders from getting access to their systems, overlooking the fact that 60 percent of data breaches are caused by insider threats. This can be both deliberate or accidental, with both disgruntled and negligent employees posing their own set of threats.

Commonly, this is caused by a lack of internal security controls, which creates opportunities for those looking to profit from sabotage or data theft. Insiders are often undetected by systems designed to spot threats from outside, and they are capable of evading internal checks. Rigorous access controls, as well as monitoring to understand who is accessing data and what they are doing with it, is part of the solution. Another is raising awareness of steps everyone should take to ensure they don’t accidentally become a threat.

Failing To Instill A Company-Wide Culture Of Cyber Preparedness

For many years, cybersecurity has been seen as the responsibility of IT teams. The reality is that everyone in an organization today has a crucial part to play in protecting it from attack.

Instilling a cyber-prepared culture involves integrating cybersecurity into every aspect of daily operations. This means that security best practices should be actively promoted by leaders and should be a critical part of employee onboarding and ongoing certification. Channels should be in place for reporting suspicious activity without fear of reprimand or overstepping boundaries. The key is to communicate the message that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and not something that should be left to IT or technical staff to sort out.

Mitigating Cyber Business Risks In 2025 And Beyond

Being aware of these pitfalls and understanding the basic steps businesses should take to avoid them is the first step to building resilience to cyber threats. Make no mistake, as business and society as a whole become increasingly digitized and connected, the risks posed by hackers, phishers, and scammers, not forgetting good old-fashioned ignorance, are only going to grow.

Adopting cybersecurity-first best practices, training staff to be aware of the risks, and putting a resilient incident response plan in place should be top priorities for every business today.

Conclusion

It is clear that cybersecurity is a pressing concern for businesses today. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to be aware of the common pitfalls and take proactive steps to avoid them. By adopting AI-based monitoring, having an incident response plan in place, training employees, and instilling a company-wide culture of cyber preparedness, businesses can protect themselves from the ever-evolving threat of cyber attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the most significant threat to businesses today?
  The most significant threat to businesses today is the use of AI-powered attacks, which can evade security systems and cause significant damage.
• How can businesses mitigate the risk of insider threats?
  Businesses can mitigate the risk of insider threats by implementing rigorous access controls, monitoring data access, and raising awareness among employees about the importance of cybersecurity.
• What is the best way to train employees on cybersecurity?
  The best way to train employees on cybersecurity is through continuous, ongoing implementation of cybersecurity training, including simulated phishing tests and workshops on new threats.