The World Economic Forum (WEF) says generative AI is reshaping cybersecurity risk in 2026, with leaders now more worried about data leaks than about attackers using artificial intelligence to launch more advanced hacks.
In its Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, the WEF says AI is expected to be the most significant driver of change in cybersecurity in the year ahead, according to 94% of survey respondents.
“AI is supercharging the cyber arms race… Technological advances indicate AI as both a force multiplier for defense and a catalyst for attackers.”
WEF says data leaks linked to generative AI are now the top concern for 2026, cited by 34% of respondents, while fears about adversarial AI capabilities, or AI-assisted hacks, rank second at 29%.
“This marks a striking reversal from previous years – in 2025, advancement of adversarial capabilities topped the list at 47% compared to only 22% for data leaks associated with GenAI. The shift underscores a turning point in the AI risk landscape for the upcoming year: while the ‘AI arms race’ between attackers and defenders continues to intensify, attention is pivoting from purely offensive innovation with AI towards the unintended exposure and misuse of sensitive data through generative and agentic systems.”
At the same time, concern is rising around the security and governance of AI systems themselves. Worries about the technical vulnerabilities of AI systems soared from 5% in 2025 to 13% this year. Meanwhile, concerns about the software supply chain and code development risks climbed from 6% to 7% over the same time frame. And the legal concerns around intellectual property and liability stayed put at 4%.
The survey was launched on August 25, 2025, and ran through October 1, 2025, with 873 participants from 99 countries, including C-suite executives, academics, civil society and public-sector cybersecurity leaders.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at CapitalAI Daily are not investment advice. Investors should do their own due diligence before making any decisions involving securities, cryptocurrencies, or digital assets. Your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. CapitalAI Daily does not recommend the buying or selling of any assets, nor is CapitalAI Daily an investment advisor. See our Editorial Standards and Terms of Use.