The key to AI security is focusing on your data quality and governance first. You can't bolt security onto an AI model after the fact; it has to be built into the data you use from the very beginning.
Kevin Kiley made this point on a Retail Remix episode, emphasizing that a strong security and data governance focus is essential when using AI. It's not just about preventing breaches, but about ensuring the AI makes accurate, reliable decisions. Steve Zisk echoed this on The eCom Ops Podcast, explaining that clean, structured data is the real AI strategy. Without a solid data foundation, you're not only getting bad outputs from your AI, but you're also exposing your business and customers to significant privacy risks. It's about shifting from just protecting your systems to actively managing the data within them.
This means adopting a "privacy by design" framework, a concept raised on the Retail Gets Real podcast. Before you implement any AI, your first step is to audit your existing data. Ensure you have clear consent, that the data is accurate, and that you have a clear governance plan for how it's used and protected.