Key Takeaways
- 94% of experts in a new survey believe AI will be spearheading changes to cybersecurity in 2026.
- Overall, AI can be used to better cyber practices, but organizations should remain vigilant about the sophistication and scale AI could bring to cyber attacks.
- Cybersecurity remains a top priority for businesses this year.
A new report has found that organizations see AI as the biggest factor changing cybersecurityin the new year.
While AI does have the potential to solidify security procedures, AI-driven attacks are a concern and the technology looks to increase the sophistication of existing cyber threats such as phishing.
As a result, cybersecurity remains a top priority for businesses in 2026, particularly as new technologies shape the landscape of threat.
AI Will Drive Cybersecurity Changes in 2026
According to a survey from The World Economic Forum, 94% of respondents anticipate that AI will be the most significant driver of cybersecurity changes in 2026.
In conjunction, the percentage of organizations assessing the security element of AI tools before deploying them has increased. 37% of organizations were following this practice in 2025, and this has risen to 64% in 2026.
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Overall, only 36% of organizations reported not having any processes in place when a new AI tool is introduced, suggesting a growing validation of AI’s potential security risks.
AI is Strengthening Defenses And Enhancing Offenses
AI is mostly understood in its potential to better productivity and revenue across businesses. However, there also are ways to harness the technology’s strengths in order to bolster a business’s cybersecurity measures.
There are examples of AI being used in automated threat detection, giving experts the opportunity to quickly contain incoming attacks. The technology can also be used to monitor network traffic, and even predict potential security breaches, so that teams can beef up their security in anticipation.
That being said, on the other side of the coin, organizations are realizing the security risks that come with deploying AI. The report found that 87% of experts identified AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest growing cyber risk over the course of 2025.
Think, for instance, of SpamGPT — an AI-powered platform designed to orchestrate mass phishing campaigns. Or, even deepfakes, that already have a record of causing disruption within organizations.
Cybersecurity Remains a Critical Focus for Businesses
As a result of the conflicting nature of AI, it’s no wonder cybersecurity remains a serious focus for businesses. The report found that 73% of respondents had had someone in their network personally impacted by cyber-enabled fraud over the course of 2025.
Organizations also understand that AI is becoming a strong factor in determining cybersecurity practices. 63% of respondents said that a rapidly evolving threat landscape and emerging technologies is their organization’s greatest challenge to becoming cyber resilient.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that businesses are slowing down on AI development, however, even amidst reports of poor ROI.
In general, we’d recommend caution be exercised over excitement, in order for businesses to make effective decisions when implementing, and protecting against, AI.
