The Electronic Security Association (ESA) launched its AI Readiness Council, aiming to guide the electronic security and life safety sector in the practical and profitable adoption of artificial intelligence.
Priya Serai, chief information officer at Zeus Fire and Security, will chair the new Council. Matt Carlson, controller and accounting manager at Doyle Security, will serve as vice chair, giving the group a strong grounding in everyday needs for security professionals.
AI is transforming system design, sales, and service with tools such as predictive analytics, smart video, and biometric access control. It has reshaped business functions including marketing automation, sales workflows, scheduling, installation, maintenance, and billing, helping firms boost productivity and margins.
Those advances bring new challenges around governance, compliance, and ethics. Without practical guidelines, organizations risk slipping behind or making flawed technology choices. ESA formed the Council to keep members ready for this evolution.
“ARC gives our members a way to lead, not just react, as AI reshapes the security landscape,” says Kevin Stone, ESA Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer at Doyle Security. “This council is about real-world solutions that help integrators and business owners adopt AI with confidence and clarity.”
The Council will concentrate on four areas of activity:
- Real-world Deployments: Teams will showcase applied AI solutions such as object recognition in video feeds, advanced fire detection algorithms, intrusion alerts, and automated central station monitoring.
- Ethics and Governance: Members will draft frameworks to address bias, establish risk controls, and align with compliance requirements. They will plan audit procedures and accountability measures for AI projects.
- Guidelines and Technical Standards: Working groups will produce operational standards and reference architectures that ensure AI features integrate safely and scale with business growth.
- Training and Business Integration: The Council plans to develop learning modules and certification paths to build AI literacy. Content will highlight how automation can optimize marketing campaigns, speed installations, streamline maintenance, and accelerate billing.
“ARC is here to separate signal from noise,” says Serai, chair of the Council. “We want to help companies make informed decisions and understand the long-term impact of AI in our industry.”
Over the next six months, Council teams will compile advisory materials targeting specific segments of the security market. Initial releases, such as a best-practice playbook and a bias mitigation framework, are scheduled for release by midyear.
Membership will include integrators, system manufacturers, central station operators, and consulting experts. Participants will collaborate through regular virtual sessions and focused workshops.
