AI makes a thunderous entry into cyber risks
the fifth consecutive year, cyber incidents dominate the Allianz Barometer 2026, but artificial intelligence—which has risen from 10th to 2nd place—is the most worrying due to its acceleration of operational, legal, and reputational risks, particularly for SMEs. For the fifth consecutive year, cyber incidents dominate the Risk Barometer published by Allianz: they are the number one concern for businesses worldwide in 2026. But it is artificial intelligence (AI) that has seen the most spectacular rise, climbing from 10th to 2nd place in the ranking. According to the annual… survey conducted by Allianz Commercial among 3,338 risk management experts in 97 countries, 42% of respondents rank cyber incidents as the top global risk. This is a record high. Ransomware, data breaches, and IT service interruptions remain major threats to all sectors,…