Cyber Arms Race: Weaponized Artificial Intelligence Expected to Redefine Conflict

Cyber arms race: Weaponized artificial intelligence expected to redefine conflict, published by Defence Connect, examines how weaponized AI will reshape cyber conflict in 2026. The article reports predictions from Kinetic IT that AI-driven phishing, deepfakes, and adaptive malware will accelerate cyberattacks and lower barriers to criminal operations. It also describes how defenders will deploy intelligent agents to automate detection, triage, and response across security operations. The article highlights emerging risks to smart cities, government systems, wearables, and critical infrastructure, while stressing the need for secure-by-design principles and stronger regulation.

Cybersecurity will converge with wearable technology

Wearables bring their own challenges. Health trackers and the data they collect – such as heart rate, location, sleep patterns – are prime targets. Breaches of fitness platforms or insurer wellness programs could expose deeply personal information…Expect moves toward security certification for consumer IOT health devices, building on Australia’s voluntary IOT Trust Mark and emerging smart device standards.

Smart cities and critical infrastructure will come under siege

Hyper-connected cities will greatly expand the national attack surface, with every connected system becoming a potential point-of-entry for malicious actors…In 2026, expect at least one major city to suffer a coordinated cyber attack with a real possibility of ransomware taking down IT networks and connected services…In 2026, expect attackers to escalate tactics, moving beyond data theft to manipulation, such as altering permit records or health data to sow chaos

Digitizing government services will lead to heightened threats

Government portals, payments systems and citizen databases will become targets for financially motivated hackers and nation-state hackers alike…With elections looming in some jurisdictions, electoral systems and disinformation campaigns will face increased targeting as hacktivists and state actors seek to undermine trust.

Secure by design principles will become essential

Security by design will cease to be a “nice-to-have” and will instead become non-negotiable. Regulatory pressure both at home and abroad will drive this shift…Governments may introduce consumer-facing security labels for internet of things devices, similar to energy rating labels, to raise the baseline and eliminate low-hanging fruit like default passwords. Continuous compliance monitoring replaces annual audits, with dashboards providing real-time visibility into security posture.