Organizations turn to AI as data breach costs jump 12%: IBM

Homepage > News > Business > Organizations turn to AI as data breach costs jump 12%: IBM Bad actors are capitalizing on artificial intelligence (AI) to swiftly carry out cyberattacks, but a recent IBM (NASDAQ: IBM) report found that global organizations are countering this by reinforcing their cybersecurity with the same technology. In its Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026, which surveyed 16 countries and regions, IBM noted a 56% increase in AI-driven attacks from 2025, with the global average cost of a data breach climbing 12% to reach $4.99 million, or $1,100 per hour. The costs of data breach refer to the expenses businesses incur in detecting and containing the attacks, settling regulatory fines and legal expenditures, as well as credit monitoring for victims. The United States topped the list with an average breach cost of $11.5 million, up 13% in 2025. It is followed by the Middle East at $8 million and the Benelux region at $7.37 million. Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region sits 9th in the overall ranking with $4.12 million, while Brazil is at the bottom with $1.41 million. South Africa also made the list in 12th spot, and although i...