AI Use in Cybersecurity Jumped From 50% to 78% in a Year. AI-Related Failures Rose Sharply Too. New SANS Institute Survey Reveals a Governance Gap.

The 2026 SANS Institute survey reveals rapid AI adoption in cybersecurity (50% to 78% in one year), but governance and workforce structures have not kept pace. While 78% of organizations report AI-enabled attacks and red teaming adoption jumped to 61%, 63% of practitioners report significant AI shortcomings in threat detection. The report highlights a critical gap between deployment speed and proper oversight, with human expertise remaining essential for effective defense.