Right now, almost no industry can avoid the ever-present dominance of artificial intelligence (AI). This couldn’t be more true than physical security, a field where advanced cloud-connected, access control systems are increasingly embracing the future and looking to AI.
While, yes, this technology-forward approach is necessary, experts say the true beating heart of the physical security world is that of human input and expertise. One needs people who are trained in how best to implement physical security strategies and leverage new technologies in order to keep companies, their associated brands and data, and their staff and visitors safe and secure.
In a recent piece for Security Magazine, Scott Solomon, the CEO of Operational Security Solutions, describes how both the physical security and the cash-in-transit — or the physical transportation of cash from one place to another — are sectors that rely on new technological innovations but that also wouldn’t function without human control. As Solomon writes, with proper security protocols in these two fields, “human judgment isn’t just a component, it’s the anchor.”
For just one example, armed personnel and highly trained security staff who can respond to real-time threats and disturbances represent a level of keen observation and intuition that “AI cannot yet replicate.”
“Unlike AI, which operates virtually on predefined algorithms and data, or binary ‘black & white’ terms, humans can interpret subtle environmental cues and navigate complex social dynamics to de-escalate potentially harmful situations,” he explains. “The ultimate responsibility in the security industry is carried by human real-time decision making.”
One of the elements that differentiates human response from that of machines the most is adaptability. Solomon writes that AI can clearly process large quantities of data at a scale that would be impossible for human beings to attempt. That being said, tech “lacks the intuitive grasp of human unpredictability … [security professionals] undergo rigorous continuous training to remain adept at facing new challenges in their environment.”
This further underscores one of the most constant maxims in security — training is key. A business will never be adequately protected without robust training of security staff.
None of this means it’s time to de-emphasize how important AI is. It’s unavoidable. Any firm that fails to implement AI will fall behind. The security of the company as a whole will be compromised if current technologies are discarded. Instead, the way of the future is physical security that reflects AI complementing human beings.
“As technology advances, the challenge will be to integrate AI in ways that complement and amplify human strengths, rather than diminish them,” Solomon asserts in the conclusion to his piece.
For the full article, head to the link here.