Enterprises Struggle to Prepare for AI and Quantum Threats, PwC Survey Reveals
A new report from global consulting firm PwC has shed light on a pressing concern facing organizations worldwide: their inability to prepare for emerging threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology. The 2027 Global Digital Trust Insights report surveyed over 4,000 businesses and tech leaders across more than 70 countries, highlighting the daunting reality that many enterprises are unprepared to defend against AI-assisted attacks.
At the heart of this issue is the increasing reliance on AI-powered tools by attackers. According to PwC’s survey, leaders identify attacks targeting their own AI systems as the top cyber threat they are least prepared to address. This includes concerns around autonomous botnets (53%), adversarial attacks (52%), and data poisoning (52%). These risks are particularly worrisome given the growing sophistication of AI-assisted attacks, which can outpace human defenses.
One reason for this vulnerability is the lack of workforce skills in AI oversight and governance. Only 22% of leaders would use fully autonomous execution by AI agents for cyber defense without human approval, citing concerns around reliability and maturity as major obstacles. This reluctance may soon prove unsustainable, given the accelerating pace of AI-assisted attacks.
AI is not only a threat but also a potential defense against these emerging risks. Many organizations are turning to AI-powered tools for threat detection and alerting, with 84% of security and finance leaders expecting budgets to increase in this area. However, fully autonomous agents are needed to match the speed and scale of AI-assisted attacks, raising concerns about accountability and ownership.
The survey highlights a pressing need for enterprises to reassess their security foundations and implement robust defenses against AI-powered threats. This includes encryption, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable to quantum computers that can decrypt classic encryption with ease. As the threat landscape continues to evolve at breakneck speed, organizations must adapt and invest in emerging technologies, such as quantum-resistant cryptography, to protect their data.
Ultimately, this PwC survey serves as a wake-up call for enterprises to prioritize AI-powered security defenses and address the skills gap in AI oversight and governance. By taking proactive steps to prepare for these emerging threats, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with AI-assisted attacks and ensure the integrity of their digital assets.
In practice, this means investing in AI-powered threat detection and alerting tools, developing workforce skills in AI governance, and implementing robust encryption measures that are resistant to quantum computers. As the threat landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial for organizations to stay ahead of the curve and prioritize security investments accordingly.
Source: SecurityWeek — 2026-10-01