WEF Report Identifies AI as Biggest Force to Shape Cybersecurity in 2026

Dike Onwuamaeze

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the biggest force that would shape cybersecurity in 2026, both for better and for worse.

The WEF made the projection in its “Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Insight Report,” which stated that cyber-enabled fraud has overtaken ransomware as Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs’) top concern.

The report also stated that AI, geopolitical fragmentation and complexity in supply chains would accelerate cybersecurity threats in 2026.

According to the report, “AI is supercharging the cyber arms race and is anticipated to be the most significant driver of change in cybersecurity in the year ahead.”

It added: “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.

“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 WEF stated further that this year’s findings underscored that cyber risk was no longer a technical issue alone, as it has become a strategic, economic, and societal concern that demands coordinated action across sectors and borders.

It added: “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 WEF stated that cyber-enabled fraud is a concerning threat to business organisations and households alike.

In the survey, 73 per cent of respondents reported that they or someone in their network had been personally affected by cyber-enabled fraud over the course of 2025.

It also stated that CEOs have rated cyber-enabled fraud as their top concern, shifting focus from ransomware to emerging risks such as cyber enabled fraud and AI vulnerabilities.

The WEF’s report pointed out that AI, geopolitical fragmentation and complexity in supply chains would accelerate 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.”

It added: “In 2026, cybersecurity will continue to evolve across technological, geopolitical, economic, and strategic dimensions. In this landscape, cybersecurity is no longer a backroom technical function; it is a core strategic concern for governments, businesses and societies.

“The coming year will test not only global technological preparedness but also the capacity to align policy, ethics, and collaboration in defending an increasingly digital world.”

The WEF’s report stated that CEOs from Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are faced with the greatest cyber skills shortages.

It said that, “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.”

The CEO of Mastercard, Mr. Michael Miebach, acknowledged in the report that cybersecurity was the foundation for our digital world, saying that, “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.”

Speaking in the same vein, the CEO of IBM, Arvind Krishna, said, “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.”