AI and deepfakes are proving to be a security nightmare for businesses everywhere

• Thales 2026 Data Threat Report says 61% see AI as top data security risk
• Enterprises grant AI broad access, creating insider-like risks
• 48% report reputational damage from AI-driven misinformation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfakes are proving to be a security nightmare for businesses everywhere, with new research claiming almost two-thirds (61%) of firms see AI as their top data security risk.

The Thales 2026 Data Threat Report noted that at the heart of this problem is the challenge of access control and management.

Enterprises are increasingly adding AI into workflows, analytics, customer service, and development pipelines. To make it work, they need to grant these tools broad, automated access, turning AI tools into a trusted insider. The issue is that the controls put in place for employees are almost always stricter than those for AI.