Kapersky experts shares How Artificial Intelligence Will Shape Threats and Defences Across APAC?
Asia Pacific (APAC) is rapidly emerging as the global epicentre of artificial intelligence innovation, redefining how businesses adopt AI and how cyber threats evolve. According to new insights from Kaspersky, the region is home to a growing number of so-called “AI Frontier” companies, with 78% of professionals in APAC using AI tools at least weekly, surpassing the global average of 72%.
What sets APAC apart is its bottom-up AI adoption model. Hyper-connected consumers, widespread device penetration, and digitally native younger populations are embedding AI into everyday workflows long before formal enterprise rollouts. Combined with strong investment, CEO-driven strategies, and fast-growing digital economies, APAC has become a proving ground for next-generation AI innovation—and a hotspot for emerging cybersecurity risks.
As AI accelerates enterprise transformation, it is simultaneously reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. Kaspersky experts predict that in 2026, AI will play a dual role, strengthening cyber defence while also empowering cybercriminals with more automated, scalable, and convincing attack methods.
One of the most significant trends is the mainstreaming of deepfakes. AI-generated fake content is becoming more realistic, accessible, and widespread, forcing organisations to integrate deepfake awareness into security training and governance policies. Improvements in synthetic audio and the lower barrier to entry for content generation tools are expected to further fuel misuse.
“AI is reshaping cybersecurity from both sides. It is a powerful force for both attackers and defenders, and how organisations manage it will define the future of cyber resilience,” said Vladislav Tushkanov, Research Development Group Manager at Kaspersky.
Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, added that APAC’s rapid AI adoption presents both opportunity and risk, making AI-driven cybersecurity, threat intelligence, and proactive defence strategies essential for organisations navigating digital transformation in 2026 and beyond.
Kaspersky also forecasts continued efforts to establish AI-generated content labelling standards, though technical and regulatory challenges remain. At the same time, the distinction between legitimate and malicious AI-generated content will blur, as brands increasingly use synthetic media in marketing—making phishing and social engineering attacks harder to detect.
From an attacker’s perspective, AI will increasingly span the entire cyber kill chain, supporting reconnaissance, malware development, infrastructure setup, and automated exploitation. Open-weight AI models are expected to approach closed models in capability, increasing opportunities for misuse due to fewer safeguards.
On the defensive side, AI will transform Security Operations Centres (SOCs). Agent-based systems and natural-language interfaces will automate threat detection, vulnerability analysis, and incident response, allowing security teams to focus on decision-making rather than manual investigation.
