The agency’s global survey suggests that, as AI vulnerabilities surge, geopolitical risks could erode national confidence levels.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, drawing from a survey of 804 leaders across 92 countries, has highlighted a rapidly evolving threat environment where cyber-enabled fraud now outranks ransomware as the leading concern for chief executives.
Released on 11 January ahead of the Davos meeting scheduled for 18–22 January, the analysis indicates that 73% of respondents or their contacts had faced such fraud in 2025, with phishing and scams hitting record levels and eroding economic trust. This shift underscores how digital crimes now directly impact households and markets, prompting CEOs to prioritize fraud over traditional threats such as ransomware, which CISOs still view as pressing alongside supply chain weaknesses.
AI stands out as the dominant force driving cybersecurity changes, with 94% of respondents anticipating its profound influence in 2026. While AI bolsters defenses through quicker detection, it also amplifies attacks, as 87% had noted rising vulnerabilities last year — faster than any other risk category. Also:
- Data exposure from generative tools emerged as the top AI worry (34%), edging out enhanced attacker skills (29%), leading organizations to ramp up evaluations: 64% now scrutinize AI security, nearly double the 2025 figure of 37%.
- Geopolitical tensions exacerbate these issues, shaping strategies for 64% of respondents preparing for state-linked disruptions to infrastructure or espionage. Among large enterprises, 91% had overhauled approaches due to global instability, yet faith in national responses was waning — 31% felt confident overall, with stark regional gaps from 84% in the Middle East/North Africa to 13% in Latin America/Caribbean. Public sector groups reported the lowest readiness at 23%.
- In the data, supply chain opacity compounds vulnerabilities, named the biggest hurdle by 65% of respondents from top-revenue firms. WEF Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens has warned that interconnected risks demand unified action from governments, firms, and tech providers to foster resilience in an AI-fueled world.
Despite divides in resources and expertise, the report* positions cybersecurity as a collaborative arena for progress amid uncertainty.
*With notable limitations of self-reported executive responses, partial methodological transparency, absence of statistical margins, over-representation of large enterprises, and other issues
