Global cyber risks tied to connected devices and autonomous systems are emerging as one of the most pressing near-term threats heading into 2026, according to the World Economic Forum.
The WEF’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook, released last week, warns that criminals using AI tools could increasingly target IoT networks—from industrial robots and smart factories to healthcare sensors and autonomous logistics systems.
The report, which surveyed more than 100 CEOs from a mix of industries and regions, found that 87% of respondents identified AI vulnerabilities as an increasing cybercrime risk, ahead of cyber-enabled fraud and phishing (77%) and ransomware attacks (54%). Some 26% of respondents also said they expected autonomous systems and robotics to significantly affect cybersecurity in 2026.
Criminals are becoming increasingly able to use AI to manipulate IoT devices, compromise autonomous systems, and exploit systemic weaknesses across distributed networks. As IoT devices become more prevalent and capable, security concerns are mounting.
“By the end of the decade, autonomous systems will be a near-term factor, from AI assisting analysis to directing physical actions in factories, logistics, healthcare and public spaces,” the report said. “This evolution could create a new cyber-physical risk profile, where machine-executed decisions can alter safety and service quality within seconds, compressing detection and response windows.”
“Physical AI is becoming a security concern, as intelligent robots—such as those now used for order-picking in warehouses or moving containers in ports—evolve from simple machines to adaptive systems, making their behaviour less predictable and more vulnerable to compromised learning processes or control software.”
“Generative AI lowers the barriers to sophisticated attacks while making them appear highly credible,” added Konstantin Levinzon, co-founder of Planet VPN. “Criminal networks can reach users globally, launch hyper-realistic deepfake attacks, and manipulate individuals with unprecedented speed.” IoT systems, particularly those operating at scale, are highly vulnerable to these techniques.
The report also found that geopolitics is reshaping the global cybersecurity threat landscape, with 64% of organisations now factoring geopolitically motivated attacks into their risk strategies and 91% of the largest enterprises adjusting their cybersecurity posture accordingly. Confidence in national preparedness for major cyber incidents remains low: 31% of respondents expressed low confidence, with wide regional variation—from 84% in the Middle East and North Africa to just 13% in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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