The future of cybersecurity hinges not on whether companies adopt AI, but on whether they can trust what they build with it. At RSAC 2026, EY leaders emphasized that AI is no longer optional-it’s foundational.
Kapish Vanvaria, EY Global Risk Consulting Leader, noted that organizations are grappling with two major challenges: scaling AI deployment and establishing trust in its outputs. According to EY's latest research, 96% of firms include AI in their cyber strategies, yet many still apply governance retroactively.
Dan Mellen, EY Global Cyber CTO, highlighted the rapid pace of AI evolution, warning that traditional security models are being outpaced. He compared the shift to past struggles with cloud adoption, where security lagged behind business implementation.
Vanvaria stressed that trust cannot be bolted on-it must be designed in. This includes embedding explainability, traceability, and human oversight from the beginning. As companies develop AI agents for customer and employee experiences, early involvement of compliance and legal teams is critical.