The World Economic Forum has singled out Artificial Intelligence as the most influential factor set to shape cybersecurity in 2026, with both positive and negative implications.
In its “Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Insight Report,” the WEF noted that cyber-enabled fraud has surpassed ransomware as the top concern for Chief Executive Officers.
The report further highlighted that AI, geopolitical fragmentation, and increasingly complex supply chains are expected to intensify cybersecurity threats in 2026.
The report stated, “AI is supercharging the cyber arms race and is anticipated to be the most significant driver of change in cybersecurity in the year ahead.
“AI is transforming cybersecurity on both sides of the fight by strengthening defence while enabling more sophisticated attacks.
“AI vulnerabilities are accelerating at an unprecedented pace: 87 per cent of respondents identified AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk over the course of 2025.”
It added, “Geopolitics is a defining feature of cybersecurity. In 2026, geopolitics remains the top factor influencing overall cyber risk mitigation strategies.
“Some 64 per cent of organisations are accounting for geopolitically motivated cyberattacks such as disruption of critical infrastructure or espionage.”
The report added that this year’s findings highlight how cyber risk is no longer just a technical issue; it has evolved into a strategic, economic, and societal challenge that requires coordinated action across sectors and borders.
“While adversaries leverage automation and advanced tactics to exploit systemic weaknesses, the challenge for defenders lies in keeping pace not only through technological innovation but by strengthening governance, investing in skills and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration,” the report noted.
The WEF noted that cyber-enabled fraud poses a significant threat to both businesses and households.
According to the survey, 73 per cent of respondents said that they, or someone in their network, had been personally impacted by cyber-enabled fraud during 2025.
The WEF also noted that CEOs now rank cyber-enabled fraud as their top concern, reflecting a shift from ransomware to emerging risks such as AI vulnerabilities and fraud.
The report highlighted that AI, geopolitical fragmentation, and increasingly complex supply chains are expected to intensify cybersecurity threats in 2026.
The report said, “Cybersecurity risk in 2026 is accelerating, fuelled by advances in AI, deepening geopolitical fragmentation and the complexity of supply chains.
“These shifts are compounded by the enduring sovereignty dilemma and widespread cyber inequity, two factors that expose systemic vulnerabilities.
“The result is a threat environment where the speed and scale of attacks are testing the limits of traditional defences.”
The WEF’s report highlighted that CEOs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean are facing the most severe shortages of cybersecurity skills.
“outside of Europe and North America, more than half of CEOs admit lacking the skills to achieve current cybersecurity goals, with sub-Saharan Africa (70 per cent) and Latin America and the Caribbean (69 per cent) facing the greatest gaps,” it stated.
Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach emphasized that cybersecurity forms the foundation of our digital world, stating, “We have to come together; share intelligence globally and develop the skills equal to emerging risks. Society knows what’s at stake if we get this wrong. It’s critical that we get it right. If we do, we will be able to deliver on the many possibilities for so many people around the world.”
Echoing this concern, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna noted, “Criminals are always willing to use all possible ways to get access to value, much of which is contained in the cyber infrastructure.
“Consequently, to stay ahead, those of us who defend must use every tool at our disposal which now includes agentic AI.”
