Three AI use cases.
An IT giant has significantly reduced its security incident response team by half, leveraging artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks. Kyndryl, a major player in IT infrastructure services, has successfully used software from Palo Alto Networks to handle repetitive security operations, resulting in a 90% decrease in incidents requiring human intervention. This software not only enhances efficiency by isolating potentially compromised devices but also analyzes vast amounts of data to prevent breaches automatically. Kyndryl’s investment in these AI tools, estimated at around $600,000 last year, has led to a reduction in staffing from 80 analysts to fewer than 40, focusing only on more complex security issues. The trend towards using AI in cybersecurity is growing, with firms like KPMG also adopting similar technologies to streamline compliance audits, showcasing a shift in the industry towards automation.
In a groundbreaking test, United States fighter pilots have taken directions from an artificial intelligence system for the first time, marking a potential shift in combat tactics. Traditionally, pilots would communicate with ground support teams who monitor radar, but during this recent trial, they consulted with Raft AI’s air battle manager technology to verify their flight paths and receive quicker updates on nearby enemy aircraft. This development comes as defense technology companies increasingly focus on automation, with firms like Anduril Industries and General Atomics developing unmanned fighter drones that can operate alongside manned aircraft. Raft AI’s Chief Executive Officer, Shubhi Mishra, noted that decisions that previously took minutes can now be made in seconds, which enhances pilots’ ability to respond to threats more quickly, although it raises concerns about the potential loss of strategic judgment in military operations.
NASA and IBM have launched an innovative open-source artificial intelligence model named Surya, designed to predict solar weather and its impacts on technology both on Earth and in space. This model is particularly significant for small businesses that increasingly rely on technology, making them vulnerable to disruptions caused by solar activity. Recent estimates suggest that solar weather could lead to economic losses of up to $2.4 trillion over five years, affecting various sectors. Juan Bernabe-Moreno, Director of IBM Research Europe, noted that Surya enhances the ability to anticipate solar events, safeguarding operations from potential disruptions like GPS failures and power outages. Trained on nine years of high-resolution solar observation data, Surya promises a 16% improvement in predicting solar flares compared to traditional methods, offering a valuable tool for industries that depend heavily on technological infrastructure.
Why do we care?
Kyndryl chopped SOC grunt work with Palo Alto’s automation—claims of a 90% drop in human-handled incidents and headcount halved. Don’t copy the headline; copy the discipline: baseline metrics, automate the noisy 20%, and put guardrails on every playbook. Bill for results, not seats.
Fighter pilots taking cues from AI? Cool demo, early days. The business translation is simple: AgentOps. If an agent can push a button, you need permissions, logs, and an “undo.” Sell that as a service.
NASA + IBM’s Surya predicts solar flares better and earlier. That’s not sci-fi; it’s uptime insurance. Wire alerts into your NOC, pre-stage GPS/SD-WAN fallbacks, and show “impact avoided” in the QBR. That’s sticky revenue.