In cybersecurity, the barrier to entry for criminals has effectively collapsed. While tools like ChatGPT and Claude are revolutionising our productivity, they are also handing bad actors a massive upgrade. From grammatically perfect phishing emails to sophisticated deepfake impersonations, the threats facing small businesses in 2026 are more convincing, and more dangerous, than ever.
I’ve been tracking these developments closely, noting a disturbing 3,000% surge in deepfake fraud and a massive spike in credential-stealing malware. For small businesses, the risk is no longer theoretical; it’s a matter of when, not if, you will be targeted.
That is why I am thrilled to announce my participation in the inaugural Biztech Innovation Roundtable live event on Wednesday, 4 February at 12:00 UK.
During this one-hour online session, I’ll be looking closely at how criminals are using AI to bypass traditional defences. We will discuss:
The Rise of “Deepfake-as-a-Service”: How criminals use real-time face-swapping to dupe finance teams.
Hyper-Targeted Phishing: Why your team can no longer rely on spotting “poor grammar” to identify a scam.
Actionable Defence: Practical, cost-effective strategies for SMEs to protect their credentials and their reputation.
The Biztech Innovation Roundtable is a brand-new initiative designed to bring together leaders, founders, and public-sector partners to shape the future of our local digital economy. It’s a space for honest, strategic dialogue about the challenges that matter most, and right now, AI-driven security is at the top of that list.
Don’t wait for a breach to happen before you take action. Join me on 4 February to gain the insights you need to keep your business thriving as the threats keep changing.
Register for the Biztech Innovation Roundtable Webinar here and read more about the AI threats facing small businesses on my blog.
