What Does a Data Breach Cost? AI Is a Sizable Factor
CSO Online, Friday, August 7th, 2026
Average breach costs reached $6 million globally, up 35% year over year, with AI-enabled attacks driving the rise.
IBM's 2026 Cost of a Data Breach report found that average breach expenses rose to $6 million from $4.44 million previously, based on analysis of 600 organizations worldwide.
One in four malicious breaches involved AI-enabled attacks, particularly deepfakes and AI-driven malware.
While security automation and AI tools reduced breach costs by nearly $2 million on average, one quarter of organizations have yet to adopt these defenses.
The US experienced record costs at $11.5 million per breach, driven by regulatory penalties and business expenses, nearly double the global average.