"In 2026 and beyond, threat actor use of AI is expected to transition decisively from the exception to the norm, noticeably transforming the cyber threat landscape, noted security leaders at Google's Mandiant and Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG). We anticipate that actors will fully leverage AI to enhance the speed, scope, and effectiveness of operations, building upon the robust evidence and novel use cases observed in 2025. This includes social engineering, information operations, and malware development."
"Looking back at the biggest cybersecurity breaches and intrusions of 2025, here's what I wonder: Will those trends continue unabated into the new year? According to the threat intelligence and cybersecurity experts I've talked to, it's likely to be a bit of each. And it should come as no surprise that artificial intelligence topped the threat list for many researchers."
Weaponization of AI is poised to intensify in 2026, transforming malware and attack techniques into faster, broader, and more effective operations. Threat actors will fully leverage AI for social engineering, information operations, and malware development while adopting agentic systems to automate and scale multi-step attacks across networks. Malicious AI agents will roam environments and evade traditional detection methods. CISOs and security teams must rapidly upskill and adopt new defensive strategies, tooling, and threat intelligence to counter AI-driven threats. State-level AI safety laws and regulatory changes will intersect with cybersecurity risk management, complicating compliance and operational responses.
Read at ZDNET
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