By Shannon Williams
Publication Date: 2025-11-19 17:00:00
Cybersecurity experts predict a sharp escalation in the complexity and scope of attacks through 2026, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), challenges in IPv6 transition, and persistent gaps in third-party risk management. Experts warn that these trends will impact defender response times and visibility while attackers benefit from automation and identity-focused tactics.
The increasing threat of AI
AI is expected to move beyond simply supporting security operations and instead become a key accelerator for offensive cyber activities. Automated reconnaissance, exploit chaining, and adaptive lateral movement enabled by AI enable attackers to breach systems at a speed that human teams cannot match. This could reduce the dwell time – the period during which attackers remain undetected – from weeks to days.
The asymmetry in how AI errors affect attackers and defenders further complicates matters. Attackers can tolerate errors and retries…
