Why AI Adoption Starts With Security

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning , Events , Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development Why AI Adoption Starts With Security Meerah Rajavel of Palo Alto Networks on AI Security, Governance and Use-Case Fit Michael Novinson (MichaelNovinson) • March 24, 2026     Share Post Share Credit Eligible Get Permission Meerah Rajavel, CIO, Palo Alto Networks Artificial intelligence is moving faster than governance frameworks can adjust, raising the stakes for security leaders. The speed of model, agent and startup launches is making rigid mandates less useful, said Meerah Rajavel, CIO at Palo Alto Networks. Enterprises need guardrails and frameworks that match AI's pace. See Also: How Technical Debt Puts Critical Infrastructure at Risk Rajavel said practitioners have to treat security as a core requirement, not a later fix. She tied that requirement to use-case selection: Organizations need a clear understanding of where probabilistic outputs are acceptable and where deterministic results are required. "If you are not thinking about security, don't do AI, because AI is one of those things that has phenomenal amount of outcomes that it can produce. But because of the speed at which it's moving, you need to have real-time security," she said. In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at RSAC Conference 2026, Rajavel also discussed: How AI is reshaping software engineering, with human oversight guiding design and production decisions; Where workflow automation delivers value, based on strong data fit and process redesign; How contextual data improves AI decision-making. Rajavel is responsible for Palo Alto Networks' global information technology functions, driving a comprehensive strategy to scale and rapidly deliver innovative solutions for worldwide teams. Prior to Palo Alto Networks, she served as CIO at Citrix and held leadership roles at McAfee, Forcepoint, Cisco and Infosys.