The world of cybersecurity is facing a new challenge: AI-powered attacks. A recent survey conducted during Infosecurity Europe 2026 revealed that AI-powered attacks are the top concern for many cybersecurity professionals, with 41% citing them as a major challenge. This is double the number of those concerned about supply chain risk (21%) or unknown threats (21%). The survey also highlighted the issue of alert fatigue, with 26% of respondents stating that chasing false positives and low-priority alerts waste the most time within security teams. This suggests that a significant portion of time is spent validating findings, which can be a drain on resources. The survey also found that only 19% of respondents completely trust threat intelligence to tell them what to fix first, with 52% stating that it helps inform decisions but still requires significant human judgment. This highlights the limitations of threat intelligence and the need for a more effective approach to managing cyber risks. The adoption of Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is growing, but only 28% of respondents described their organization as having a continuous, proactive exposure management program in place. This suggests that many organizations are still struggling to determine which exposures actually matter and whether their existing controls will stop them. Boards are increasingly looking for reassurance that their organizations understand how AI could change the threat landscape, with 32% of respondents stating that AI-driven threats and organizational preparedness to tackle such issues are the most pressing concerns. This places AI ahead of more established boardroom cyber priorities, including regulatory compliance such as NIS2 and DORA (19%), supply chain and third-party risk (16%), and cloud and infrastructure exposure (15%). The survey also examined the use of AI for decision-making, with only 8% of respondents stating that they would trust AI to make security decisions without human approval. This highlights the need for a more balanced approach to AI integration, where human judgment and oversight are still essential. In conclusion, the survey highlights the challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals in managing AI-powered attacks and the need for a more effective approach to threat intelligence and exposure management. It also emphasizes the importance of human judgment and oversight in the use of AI for decision-making. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial for organizations to stay ahead of the curve and adapt their cybersecurity strategies accordingly.
