Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Cisco released new Saudi-specific insights from its 2025 AI Readiness Index ahead of Black Hat MEA, set to take place in Riyadh from 2–4 December.

The latest edition of the global study highlights how organizations across the Kingdom are adopting artificial intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity and counter emerging AI-driven threats.

According to the survey, 60% of respondents in Saudi Arabia are highly aware of AI-specific risks, while 51% are already using AI to improve threat detection, response, and recovery.

The report notes that AI is increasingly being embedded into core security systems, with 39% of KSA organizations integrating AI into their security and identity architecture and a similar proportion reporting they are fully equipped to govern AI agents across their networks.

The Index also shows AI adoption scaling across Saudi enterprises. Cisco found that 91% of organizations plan to deploy AI agents, with 40% expecting these agents to collaborate with employees within the next year. Nearly 68% already report improvements in profitability, productivity, and innovation from AI investments.