AI Tops Climate Change as Experts' Leading Risk Concern in AXA 2026 Report
The annual AXA Future Risks Report has identified artificial intelligence as the foremost concern among risk experts for 2026, marking the first time since the survey's inception that a technology-related risk has overtaken environmental threats at the top of the rankings.
The report, which synthesizes input from hundreds of risk management professionals and academics worldwide, highlights growing anxieties around AI's rapid deployment across industries. Experts cited concerns including job displacement, algorithmic bias, autonomous decision-making systems, and the potential for AI-enabled cyberattacks as primary drivers of this shift.
While climate change remains a significant worry and retains its position near the top of the risk landscape, the acceleration of generative AI capabilities and its integration into critical infrastructure appears to have reshaped expert priorities. The report notes that the pace of AI adoption has outstripped the development of regulatory frameworks and safety protocols, creating what many respondents described as a governance gap.
The findings underscore a broader trend in risk management: as AI systems become more capable and pervasive, their potential failure modes and societal impacts are drawing increased scrutiny from those who study systemic risks for a living.