Jakarta, INTI - Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, hosted the Academic Partners Summit 2026, bringing together policymakers, cybersecurity practitioners, and academics to discuss developments in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and their broader impact on society.
Under the theme “AI, Security, and Society: What’s Next for Our Digital Future?”, the forum explored the growing role of AI in cybersecurity. The discussion is particularly relevant as Indonesia continues to experience significant impacts from the rapid development of AI.
Digital transformation is creating new opportunities for innovation. At the same time, however, AI is introducing new cybersecurity risks and governance challenges.
In this evolving landscape, human judgment and decision-making remain critical to maintaining cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Talent Gap Remains a Global Challenge
Amid these developments, the cybersecurity talent gap remains a global challenge, particularly across the Asia-Pacific region. The region accounts for 60% of the global cybersecurity talent gap, while 95% of security teams continue to face a shortage of skilled professionals.
In Southeast Asia, 65% of cybersecurity positions require three years or less of work experience, highlighting the need for more accessible pathways for individuals entering the cybersecurity profession.
According to Evgeniya Russkikh, Head of Cybersecurity Education & Academic Affairs at Kaspersky, preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals requires more than technical expertise.
“Digital talent requires critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and the ability to understand the broader impact of technology on society,” Evgeniya said on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
AI Reshapes the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape
Understanding AI-powered malware is also becoming increasingly important. While AI is lowering the operational costs for cybercriminals, it is also expanding the scope of cyberattacks, including phishing, deepfakes, malware development, open-source intelligence gathering, and the automation of cyber operations.
Since 2022, AI has increasingly been used as an assistant in malware development. By 2025, AI had become more integrated into broader malware development workflows, with the potential to evolve toward agentic malware capable of operating autonomously.
“AI is changing the economics and speed of cybercrime. The technology not only helps attackers write code faster, but increasingly supports other stages of offensive operations,” said Ahmad Fareed Fauzi Mohamad Radzi, Security Researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT).
Collaboration to Build Future Ready Cybersecurity Talent
Against this backdrop, collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector is becoming increasingly important. Such collaboration is essential to developing a skilled workforce capable of supporting a resilient digital future.
Ridi Ferdiana, Director of the Directorate of Information Technology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, acknowledged that AI has become a strategic force capable of influencing Indonesia’s economy, national resilience, and security.
He emphasized that developing AI capabilities must be supported by innovation, effective governance, public trust, human talent, and resilience to safeguard the nation’s long-term interests.
“I strongly believe in the importance of critical thinking, co-creation with AI, open collaboration, effective communication, and the right mindset toward cybersecurity,” he stressed.
Through the Academic Partners Summit 2026 Jakarta, Kaspersky is encouraging dialogue among academics, cybersecurity practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to strengthen understanding of both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI as the digital ecosystem continues to evolve.
Conclusion
As AI continues to reshape both innovation and the cybersecurity threat landscape, strengthening human capabilities is becoming increasingly important. Kaspersky’s Academic Partners Summit 2026 highlights the need for closer collaboration between academia, industry, and government to develop cybersecurity talent equipped with technical expertise, critical thinking, ethical judgment, and the ability to navigate the challenges of an increasingly AI-driven digital future.
Read more: ITSEC Asia Launches Cyber & AI Academy to Prepare Indonesian Talent for the AI Era