By the end of 2017, some 61% of businesses had implemented artificial intelligence (AI) into their organizations--a 23% jump from the previous year, according to Narrative Science. And the incorporation of AI into business will only rise: The number of medium and large enterprises using machine learning is predicted to double by the end of 2018, said Deloitte. Machine learning is a form of AI that interprets massive amounts of data, applying algorithms to the material, and making predictions off its observations. Common technologies that employ machine learning include facial recognition, speech recognition, translation services, and object recognition. Businesses typically use machine learning for locating and processing large data sets that no human could sort through in a timely manner, if at all.

Cybersecurity machine learning is growing in popularity, according to Jon Oltsik, an analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group Inc. in Milford, Mass. Oltsik attended the recent Black Hat conference, where technology vendors were abuzz with talk of cybersecurity machine learning. ESG research asked 412 respondents about their understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity machine learning, which revealed that only 30% said they were very knowledgeable on the subject. Only 12% of respondents said their organizations had deployed these systems widely. According to Olstik, the cybersecurity industry sees an opportunity, because only 6% of respondents in surveys said their organizations were not considering AI or machine learning deployments.