Businesses are rapidly deploying AI-powered fraud detection tools as cybercriminals increasingly use artificial intelligence to automate phishing campaigns and other digital attacks, according to Infobip's 2026 Fraud & Security Report. The findings highlight a growing AI arms race in enterprise communications, where organizations are embedding intelligent security directly into customer engagement infrastructure to counter increasingly sophisticated threats.

Artificial intelligence is transforming both sides of the cybersecurity landscape. While enterprises are embracing AI to strengthen fraud prevention and secure customer communications, cybercriminals are using the same technology to automate attacks, personalize phishing campaigns, and scale malicious activity more efficiently than ever before.

That dynamic is at the center of Infobip's 2026 Fraud & Security Report, which examines billions of global customer interactions to assess how AI is reshaping enterprise communications security. The report paints a picture of an escalating technological contest in which AI is becoming equally important to both attackers and defenders.

According to the research, AI-generated fraud activity continues to accelerate, with detected threats increasing 77% year over year. At the same time, organizations are responding by significantly expanding AI-powered security capabilities. Adoption of AI-based fraud detection grew 71% annually, while the use of pattern-based threat detection technologies increased 105%, reflecting broader enterprise investment in adaptive cybersecurity.

The findings suggest that traditional rule-based fraud prevention is giving way to intelligent systems capable of recognizing evolving attack patterns in real time. Rather than relying solely on predefined security rules, AI-powered detection models continuously analyze behavioral signals, messaging patterns, and network activity to identify suspicious interactions before they reach customers.

Among the report's most notable findings is the continued growth of phishing attacks. Phishing accounted for 49% of all blocked harmful communications, while phishing volumes increased 94% compared with the previous year. The data underscores how generative AI is enabling cybercriminals to produce more convincing and highly personalized fraudulent messages at scale, making conventional filtering techniques less effective.

Another area experiencing significant growth is the use of telecommunications Network APIs, particularly SIM Swap and Number Verification services. Interactions with these APIs increased 91%, with financial institutions leading adoption as banks and fintech organizations strengthen identity verification processes and combat account takeover fraud.

The report illustrates how communications infrastructure is becoming a strategic component of enterprise cybersecurity. Customer engagement platforms increasingly integrate fraud detection, identity verification, and AI-driven threat intelligence directly into messaging workflows rather than treating security as a separate operational layer.

One example highlighted in the research is UK retailer NEXT, which has implemented Infobip Signals, an AI and machine learning-powered fraud detection solution designed to identify artificially inflated messaging traffic and other suspicious communication patterns. According to the company, integrating AI-driven monitoring has strengthened its ability to secure customer communications while maintaining reliable digital engagement at scale.

The growing emphasis on AI-powered security reflects broader trends across enterprise technology. Major providers including Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cloudflare, and Cisco continue expanding AI-based cybersecurity capabilities across cloud infrastructure, identity management, and enterprise communications platforms. Increasingly, organizations view artificial intelligence not simply as an automation tool but as a critical layer of digital resilience.

Industry analysts have reached similar conclusions. According to Gartner, AI-driven cybersecurity capabilities are becoming essential as organizations contend with increasingly automated and sophisticated attack methods. IDC likewise projects continued growth in enterprise spending on AI-enabled security platforms as businesses prioritize proactive threat detection, fraud prevention, and digital trust.

The report also highlights a broader evolution in customer communication strategies. As organizations rely more heavily on SMS, messaging applications, voice services, authentication technologies, and omnichannel engagement platforms, securing those communication channels has become integral to customer experience. Fraud prevention is no longer viewed solely as an IT responsibility but as a business priority that directly influences customer confidence, regulatory compliance, and brand reputation.

For industries such as banking, e-commerce, telecommunications, and healthcare, AI-powered fraud detection is increasingly being deployed alongside identity verification, behavioral analytics, and machine learning models capable of identifying anomalous user activity before financial losses occur.

The findings suggest that enterprise security strategies are moving toward adaptive architectures where AI continuously evaluates risk across communication channels instead of reacting after fraudulent activity has already occurred. As cybercriminals increasingly leverage generative AI to improve attack efficiency, organizations are responding by embedding AI directly into customer engagement infrastructure.

Infobip's research reinforces that the future of enterprise communications will depend not only on delivering faster and more personalized customer interactions but also on ensuring those interactions remain secure. As AI adoption continues to expand on both sides of the cybersecurity equation, intelligent fraud prevention is becoming a foundational requirement for digital business operations rather than a supplementary security feature.

Market Landscape

AI-powered cybersecurity is becoming a strategic pillar of enterprise communications as organizations confront increasingly automated phishing campaigns, identity fraud, and messaging attacks. Enterprises are embedding machine learning into customer engagement platforms to detect evolving threats in real time while protecting digital trust.

Competition spans communications and cybersecurity providers including Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Cloudflare, and specialized communications platforms such as Infobip. Growing adoption of AI-driven fraud detection, behavioral analytics, and network verification technologies reflects a broader shift toward adaptive, intelligence-led security architectures.

Top Insights

• Infobip's 2026 Fraud & Security Report found AI-powered fraud detection adoption increased 71%, reflecting growing enterprise investment in intelligent cybersecurity.
• Detected AI-driven threats rose 77%, while phishing accounted for nearly half of blocked harmful communications and grew 94% year over year.
• Network API usage—including SIM Swap and Number Verification—increased 91%, with financial institutions leading adoption for stronger identity verification.
• The report highlights an industry-wide transition toward embedding AI-powered fraud prevention directly into customer communications infrastructure rather than treating security as a standalone function.

Get in touch with our MarTech Experts