2025 was the year AI went mainstream.

2026 will be the year AI weaponizes human trust. As technology evolves, human nature remains the biggest attack vector.

Welcome to our 2026 human factor forecast, where we explore five human-centered threats most likely to exploit our instincts, and the steps organizations can take to turn overconfidence and habit into awareness and control.

 

1. Secret AI Helpers Will Be on the Rise

Our prediction: The underground AI automation revolution is about to explode. Everybody, not just the tech savvy, will start using AI tools to handle repetitive tasks. Work will get done faster, and it’ll feel like magic.

Our watch out: That magic has a dark side. These “helpful” AIs can quietly leak sensitive info or make decisions nobody double-checks. By the time anyone notices, the damage could be done.

Our advice: Instead of banning AI.  Build a culture where teams share what tools they use, how they’re using them, and check for problems together. Make AI adoption part of the conversation, not something people sneak around.

 

2. Personal Devices Will Become a Cyber Trojan Horse

Our prediction: 2026 will be a big return to work year. As employees return to the office, personal laptops, tablets, and phones will flood corporate networks.

Our watch out: People don’t follow the same safety rules on their personal devices as they do on company laptops. With these devices being plugged straight into the office network, that weekend download or free game can hand malware the keys to your company data.

Our advice: Treat personal devices like company devices, but do it without making employees feel policed. Encourage employees to share what they’re using, follow simple security habits, and make safety part of everyday conversation.

 

3. AI Shortcut Syndrome Will Drive Leaks

Our prediction: An overfamiliarity with AI tools will create a new kind of complacency. Employees will make small, seemingly harmless mistakes, pasting sensitive code, customer data, or internal reports into AI tools without thinking.

Our watch out: With AI integrated into workflows, connected to systems, and capable of spreading data far beyond a single chat window, one casual prompt can turn into a massive leak, and nobody will see it coming until it’s too late.

Our advice: Build a culture that questions confidence. Train teams practical data sanitization skills, showing employees how to anonymize data and strip Personally Identifiable Information, encourage open discussions about AI use, and highlight risky behavior without shaming. Small moments of caution today will stop disasters tomorrow.

4. The Birth of Malicious Remote Freelancers

Our prediction: Remote and off-site IT contractors will become a major attack vector. Hackers will pose as legitimate freelancers, gaining trusted access to company systems without raising suspicion.

Our watch out: Every off-site connection increases the attack surface, and the more comfortable we become with remote IT, the less we notice the gaps. What seems like a convenient remote solution could be the doorway to a serious breach.

Our advice: Assume remote access is dangerous by default. Verify identities, limit what off‑site workers can touch, and review access constantly. Treat every login as a potential breach until proven otherwise.

 

5. Voice Scams Will Become Even More Real

Our prediction: AI‑generated voice scams will rise, with AI tools evolving, the voices will be clean, natural, and accurate enough to pass automated checks and sound exactly like people employees already trust.

Our watch out: As humans, we naturally respond to familiar voices, defer to authority, and act under pressure. One casual “transfer the funds” or “share the password” could create a breach before anyone realizes it. The technology is invisible, and the trust it exploits is deeply human.

Our advice: Build a culture where questioning is safe. Encourage verification habits, pausing, confirming, and treating unexpected instructions like fire alarms. When employees feel empowered to check and question, even the most convincing voice scam can be stopped cold.

 

Here’s to a safe 2026

In 2026 technology will keep racing ahead, but the human factor remains the constant.

By paying attention to habits, instincts, and how people interact with AI, we can prevent small mistakes from becoming disasters.

Awareness, dialogue, and a culture that encourages questioning are our best defenses, because even the smartest systems can’t protect us if humans are left out of the loop.

This article was written by Cywareness, a company specializing in cybersecurity awareness.

As part of its mission, Cywareness continues to monitor emerging trends, analyze real-world attacks, and share practical insights to help organizations stay ahead in today’s evolving threat landscape.