Industrial security teams are increasingly turning to AI, but a new Honeywell survey highlights a persistent gap between perceived maturity and operational reality. While 88% of industrial security leaders call their OT security programs mature, only 21% say they have a complete inventory of their operational technology assets. That disconnect suggests many programs may be less prepared than leaders believe.
The survey indicates that AI is becoming a more common tool in OT defense, yet autonomous decision-making is still uncommon. Teams appear to be using AI for assistance rather than handing over full control. The findings underscore that even mature programs struggle with foundational visibility, which can undermine threat detection and response.
Honeywell's data points to a need for stronger asset discovery and management practices before AI can deliver its full potential. Without a complete inventory, security teams cannot reliably know what needs protection, and AI-driven automation may only compound blind spots. The gap between self-assessed maturity and actual asset visibility remains a key challenge for the industry.