Artificial Intelligence Emerges as the Fastest-Rising Risk in Global Risk Perception
According to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2026, while cyber incidents have retained their position as the top global risk for the fifth consecutive year, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the fastest-rising risk area. Ranked tenth last year, AI has climbed to second place this year, with 32% of respondents identifying it as one of the most significant risks facing the global business community. This sharp rise indicates that AI is no longer viewed solely as a technological opportunity, but increasingly as a concrete risk domain encompassing operational, legal, and reputational challenges for companies.
The report highlights that the risks associated with the rapid adoption of AI are becoming more diverse. Growing liability risks linked to AI-enabled systems, concerns over system reliability and data quality, and legal uncertainties related to implementation are shaping corporate risk perceptions. In addition, the potential for AI systems to produce erroneous or unpredictable outputs, along with data security and privacy risks, are identified as emerging risk areas that directly affect companies’ reputation management and regulatory compliance processes.
This new assessment indicates that companies should not view AI solely as a technological opportunity, but also integrate the associated risks into their strategic risk management and corporate governance processes. In the period ahead, AI-related risks are expected to be not limited to technical implementation and IT functions, and are anticipated to bring the need for more comprehensive governance and policy adaptation across legal, compliance, operational, and senior management levels.