72% of workers say AI is giving phishing a dangerous new edge
New AI phishing report shows employees are still making fast decisions under pressure, while AI makes phishing messages harder to spot Workplace phishing is getting harder to detect as AI improves the tone, grammar and realism of fraudulent messages. New research from Sagiss, a provider of IT and managed security services, finds that many workers […] The post 72% of workers say AI is giving phishing a dangerous new edge appeared first on fintechnews.org .
As AI continues to advance, it's reshaping the landscape of cybersecurity threats, particularly in the realm of phishing attacks. A recent report by Sagiss, a provider of IT and managed security services, reveals that 72% of workers believe AI is making phishing attempts more convincing and dangerous. The findings highlight that employees are still making hasty decisions under pressure, even as AI enhances the tone, grammar, and realism of fraudulent messages.
The 2026 Sagiss Managed Security Report: AI Phishing in the Workplace was developed in partnership with third-party survey platform Pollfish. The study surveyed 500 desk-based workers who use email or chat as part of their jobs on February 23, 2026. The report delves into how employees are responding to suspicious messages as AI makes phishing attempts more sophisticated and harder to detect in everyday workplace communication.
Sagiss's findings indicate that phishing risk is not solely about awareness. Even when employees recognize the need to slow down and verify unusual requests, they often operate in environments characterized by urgency, multitasking, and after-hours responsiveness. As a result, many are compelled to act quickly, leaving them vulnerable to AI-driven phishing tactics.
The report uncovers several alarming statistics. 72% of respondents stated that phishing attempts are more convincing than a year ago due to AI-written language. This highlights the growing challenge for organizations to protect their workforce from these increasingly sophisticated threats. Furthermore, 64% of workers believe an AI-generated message could convincingly impersonate a colleague, while 57% reported that AI makes phishing harder to spot because it feels more professional.
The consequences of these risks are evident in the actions of employees. 63% of respondents admitted to clicking a work-related link in the past year and later regretting not double-checking it first. Similarly, 57% have verified a message's request only after taking action, and 45% have replied to a work message and later questioned its legitimacy. These figures underscore the urgent need for organizations to address the growing threat of AI-driven phishing and the human factors that contribute to its success.
To mitigate these risks, Sagiss suggests that employers should complement traditional phishing awareness training with strategies that reduce the pressure and urgency of daily workflows. By creating environments that encourage employees to pause and verify suspicious messages, organizations can better protect their workforce from AI-driven phishing attacks.
In conclusion, the Sagiss report serves as a stark warning about the evolving nature of phishing threats and the role AI is playing in making them more pervasive and dangerous. As employees continue to make rushed decisions under pressure, the combination of AI-enhanced phishing messages and the demands of modern work environments poses a significant risk to organizations. It is imperative for businesses to adapt their security strategies to address these challenges and safeguard their workforce from the growing threat of AI-driven phishing.
