AI Security Gaps Are Business Leaders' Biggest Cyber Worry, Survey Finds

A new PwC report has found that threats targeting artificial intelligence systems are the area cybersecurity leaders feel least prepared to handle. The 2027 Global Digital Trust Insights report, based on responses from nearly 3,934 business and tech leaders in 71 countries, found 52% see adversarial AI attacks as their biggest preparedness gap.

Part of the problem is unclear ownership. PwC found no consistent model for who manages AI risk, with responsibility split between IT leaders, dedicated AI roles, or cybersecurity teams. Still, a third of CEOs and risk leaders have already appointed a dedicated AI role, such as a chief AI officer. Data protection gaps add further risk, with only about half of organisations reporting fully implemented data classification or data loss prevention policies.

Despite these challenges, there is optimism. Most security and finance leaders expect cybersecurity budgets to grow, with AI a top funding priority. Businesses are focusing on governance, system hardening, and supply chain security, while also exploring AI tools for threat detection and fraud prevention. However, skills shortages remain a major barrier, with many CISOs citing a lack of staff expertise in AI oversight as a key obstacle to safely expanding AI use.