As AI Becomes Smarter, Cyber Risks Grow Increasingly Significant
The use of autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) within corporate environments is believed to present new cybersecurity and governance risks that conventional security systems have not fully anticipated. A recent report by Zentara Labs indicates that companies are facing a gap between the accelerated adoption of AI technology and the readiness of their risk management capabilities.
In the report titled “SAFE-AGENT: An Agentic AI Security Framework for the Enterprise and Public Sector,” Zentara Labs notes that an increasing number of companies in Indonesia are developing AI systems capable of taking independent action within digital environments. This development introduces new challenges regarding supervision, control, and operational security.
Regal Rauniyar Star, Co-Founder and CEO of Zentata, stated that AI technology now operates with a level of independence that was not previously accounted for in traditional security approaches. “This situation creates a gap between how AI systems function and the ability of companies to monitor and manage their risks,” Regal said in a press release on Monday (18/5/2026).
According to the report, the use of AI to enhance efficiency and automate workflows continues to rise. However, many organisations are deemed to lack adequate protection and governance frameworks to manage potential risks effectively.
Darian Kuswanto, President of Zentara, stated that companies need to shift their focus from merely pursuing technological capabilities towards strengthening the governance of AI usage. “Building an understanding of AI governance from an early stage will be a crucial step, not only for managing risk but also for maintaining public trust,” Darian remarked.
The report notes that AI adoption across various sectors, including finance, customer service, and public services, is progressing rapidly, while cyber threats continue to escalate. High levels of digital traffic anomalies, cyberattack attempts, and data breach cases in recent years demonstrate that security challenges have not subsided.
Security experts have also observed the increasing use of AI to automate cyberattacks, making them faster and more difficult to detect. This situation poses new challenges regarding the ability of companies to maintain control over digital systems that operate autonomously.
Beyond security aspects, the report highlights broader governance challenges, including the risk of AI being misused to produce harmful or misleading content. This is driving increased attention from regulators and the public regarding the need for clearer oversight as technology adoption accelerates.
Globally, several AI-based cyber incidents and the emergence of new security guidelines from various industry bodies indicate that the risks of this technology are being taken seriously. However, the implementation of security and governance practices at the corporate level remains uneven.
In Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region, the pace of AI adoption is considered to be outstripping the development of governance and security practices, resulting in a deployment gap. The report also emphasises the importance of clear system access definitions, enhanced monitoring of AI-based activities, the restriction of high-risk actions, and the establishment of accountability in the use of AI technology.