AI Emerges as a Major Corporate Risk in 2026 Amid Integration Challenges

Artificial intelligence has vaulted to become the second-largest business risk globally in 2026, according to Allianz Commercial's latest Risk Barometer. While cybercrime remains the top risk, cited by 42% of experts, 32% now identify AI as a major threat to companies. Allianz experts highlight how cybercriminals increasingly leverage AI to amplify their attacks, worsening threats like ransomware.

The rapid adoption of AI brings operational hazards such as erroneous decisions based on flawed data, potentially leading to costly lawsuits and reputational damage. New liabilities are also emerging from automated decision-making and biased AI models, emphasizing the importance of robust risk management.

Despite these concerns, nearly half of surveyed professionals believe AI offers more advantages than risks for their industries. However, the operational integration of AI presents challenges. A study by Camunda shows that although 71% of companies deploy AI agents, only 11% have applications ready for production use. Most AI agents serve non-critical roles, such as chatbots, rather than being embedded in core processes.

The complexity of business operations is rising, with companies averaging 50 interaction points that grow annually by 14%, driven by regulatory and decision-making complexities. This complexity hinders effective AI integration. A significant 84% of respondents express worries about operational risks without adequate controls, and 66% have compliance concerns. While 81% agree that orchestrating AI agents is essential for critical tasks, 85% admit their processes are not yet ready to delegate such responsibilities to AI.

Together, these findings underscore a paradox: businesses see great potential in AI but face significant hurdles in harnessing it safely and effectively. The landscape in 2026 demands vigilant attention to the risks and thoughtful integration strategies to maximize AI’s benefits without encountering detrimental operational or legal consequences.