Cybercriminals are no longer just attacking systems – they are targeting the foundational data that underpins our communities. This is not simply a security issue; it’s a signal that we must rethink how AI is used to protect our most sensitive data.

The starting point for data privacy today should be simple: ask not what you can do with AI, but what AI can do for you. In 2026, AI must move beyond hype and generic tools and be treated as a practical problem-solver. Organisations that focus on real business value (with data integrity and privacy built in from the ground up) will be the ones that emerge as winners in the era of AI.

Interest in sovereign AI is accelerating as organisations recognise the importance of keeping data within corporate and geographic borders. A sovereign-first approach improves control, compliance, and strategic autonomy, but success depends on balance. Regulations must remain elastic enough to enable innovation without creating isolated data silos or inhibiting creativity.

Effective data protection also requires a shift away from one-size-fits-all platforms. AI now enables highly targeted, department-specific solutions where access is limited to those who truly need it. This approach reduces risk while improving speed and precision.

Finally, technology alone is not enough. Cybercriminals exploit people as much as systems. Building real resilience means empowering staff, students, and stakeholders to actively participate in data privacy. When human judgment is combined with AI-driven precision, organisations gain a level of protection that generic security tools simply cannot provide.

At the heart of AI lies data. For AI systems to operate effectively, they must be trained on trusted, high-quality data free from tampering. Embedding privacy-by-design principles into the workflow processes and adopting privacy-enhancing technologies such as encryption and access controls, in parallel with continuous employee education – are all important steps in laying the foundation for AI to become the strongest asset in protecting privacy – not our greatest risk.