As advanced AI models become commonplace for threat actors, the speed of the cyberthreat landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift. Recent data shows that attacks are moving 4x faster than in previous years, with some reaching full data exfiltration in just 25 minutes.
In this Unit 42® keynote, Sam Rubin and Shay Nahari provide a strategic look at frontier AI and its impact on modern defense. They explore why the primary risk today is the relentless speed and efficiency at which AI can exploit existing vulnerabilities.
Key discussion points:
– Frontier AI and mythos: Insights from testing that showed a 50% increase in agentic coding efficiency.[1]
– Identity as the new perimeter: Why compromised identities are now a factor in 90% of all attacks.[2]
– Supply chain integrity: Navigating the 3.8x increase in risks tied to open-source software. [3]
– Machine speed operations: Why sophisticated nation-state activity requires a shift to AI-driven SecOps.
[Footnote]
1, 2, 3: Unit 42 Global Incident Response Report 2026, Palo Alto Networks, February 2026.
