2025 marked the tipping point: AI-generated voice, video, and imagery became believable enough to undermine trust at scale. In 2026, social engineering goes fully multi-channel and AI-native, moving beyond email into high-trust, low-defense channels like collaboration tools, messaging apps, and social platforms.
Chief Strategy and Experience Officer
Doppel
Former CISO
Juniper Networks
And here’s the problem: most security stacks still protect infrastructure, not reality. When a deepfake of a senior leader, or a convincingly impersonated colleague, asks an employee to move money or share credentials inside a trusted channel, MDR/EDR may see nothing wrong. That’s the 2026 threat landscape.
In this threat briefing, Doppel’s team breaks down the top 4 SED Predictions for 2026. You’ll leave with practical insights on how to prioritize multi-channel risk, implement verification workflows, and adapt defenses for a world where the most convincing attack may look completely normal to your tools, and your people.
