Preparing Security Businesses for AI: ESA’s New Council
By Merlin Guilbeau, CEO, Electronic Security Association
The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has always been dedicated to preparing our members for what’s next. Today, we are at the forefront of one of the most significant transformations our industry has ever faced: artificial intelligence. To help our members navigate this shift with clarity and confidence, ESA is proud to announce the formation of the AI Readiness Council (ARC).
This member-led initiative is designed to give the electronic security and life safety industry trusted guidance, informed analysis, and actionable tools for integrating AI in responsible and profitable ways.
Why ARC? Why Now?
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept. It is here, reshaping both the technology we provide and the way we run our businesses. On the systems side, AI is powering predictive analytics, intelligent video, biometric access control, and smarter intrusion and fire detection. On the business side, AI is being used to streamline marketing, automate sales outreach, optimize scheduling and installations, and improve billing processes.
This dual transformation presents incredible opportunities—but also new challenges. Questions around governance, compliance, ethics, and risk management are becoming just as important as evaluating the technology itself. Without clear guidance, companies risk falling behind or making choices that don’t align with their long-term business needs. ARC was created to ensure our members are equipped to lead rather than react.
As Kevin Stone, ESA Chairman of the Board, puts it: “ARC gives our members a way to lead, not just react, as AI reshapes the security landscape. This council is about real-world solutions that help integrators and business owners adopt AI with confidence and clarity.”
What Will ARC Do?
ARC will bring together integrators, manufacturers, legal professionals, researchers, and technology experts to address AI’s impact through four essential focus areas:
- AI in Action: Identifying real-world use cases across video surveillance, fire detection, intrusion systems, and monitoring.
- Ethics and Governance: Developing frameworks to help companies manage risk, reduce bias, and meet compliance requirements.
- Standards and Best Practices: Offering operational and technical guidance to ensure AI tools are safe, scalable, and effective.
- Education, Workforce Readiness, and Business Optimization: Creating training pathways to build AI literacy across the industry—with a special emphasis on how AI can improve marketing, sales, operations, installs, and billing.
Priya Serai, CIO at Zeus Fire and Security, will serve as ARC’s Chairperson, bringing deep expertise and leadership to this effort. She will be joined by Vice Chair Matt Carlson of Doyle Security, who will help guide the Council’s work to ensure it remains practical and relevant to the day-to-day needs of our members.
As Priya notes: “ARC is here to separate signal from noise. We want to help companies make informed decisions and understand the long-term impact of AI in our industry.”
Moving Forward Together
AI is here, and it will continue to accelerate change in our industry. At ESA, we believe our members deserve to be prepared for this new landscape—not just with products, but with knowledge, standards, and support systems that drive real business outcomes. The AI Readiness Council is a bold step in that direction.
I look forward to seeing how ARC’s work empowers our members to innovate, streamline operations, and strengthen their competitive edge—all while keeping life safety at the center of what we do.
For those with a passion for innovation and leadership, I encourage you to consider getting involved. Together, we can ensure that ESA members remain at the forefront of this transformation.
