Industry outlook 2026: how AI will redraw the cybersecurity battlefield

As enterprises accelerate their AI adoption, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for cybersecurity. According to senior leaders at CrowdStrike, the rapid rise of generative AI—across software development, identity systems, and security operations—will fundamentally alter how both adversaries and defenders operate. What emerges is a future where machine-speed attacks force machine-speed defense, and where the next major vulnerabilities may be created—and discovered—by AI itself.

AI Turns Into a Zero-Day Engine

Adam Meyers, SVP of Counter Adversary Operations at CrowdStrike, warns that 2026 could witness an unprecedented surge in zero-day vulnerabilities. As AI accelerates how code is written and reviewed, it is also becoming exceptionally effective at finding weaknesses. Traditional vulnerability discovery relies on two approaches: deep, human-led analysis or automated fuzzing. With GenAI reshaping the latter, fuzzing becomes faster, smarter, and infinitely scalable.

Advanced adversaries are already investing in AI-driven ...