According to a survey jointly published by the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries, 60% of C-suite respondents said technological and economic risks will have the greatest impact on their organisations in the next three years or more, with AI adverse outcomes among the most impactful risks.
The survey included 350 C-suite participants, including more than 100 Chief Risk Officers, Chief Actuaries, and other senior thought leaders.
The findings highlighted the importance of technology risks related to AI, its potential for adverse outcomes, as well as the ongoing threat of disruptive technology. Some forms of disruptive technology have ranked among the top three emerging risks annually since the 2023 survey.
“This survey of key decision makers working with risks offers an insightful snapshot of their current concerns and the potential challenges these risks pose now and in the long-term,” said R. Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research, SOA. “The survey shows a shift from geopolitical and economic concerns in 2026 toward technology-driven risks three or more years out. The report also explores the interconnectedness of risks, and the possibility of risks migrating to other areas.”
Among C-suite participants, 34% identified an economic risk as the most impactful to their organisation in 2026, while 26% cited geopolitical risk.
Greater-than-normal financial volatility was identified as the top risk in 2026 (25%), followed by geoeconomic and globalisation shifts (19%), extreme weather events (14%), and AI adverse outcomes and cyber events (8% each).
17% of respondents selected economic risks as most impactful both in 2026 and three or more years into the future.
The most frequent first-selected risk combinations by risk category were two technological risks (14%), followed by 12% each for economic and environmental risks, and economic and technological risks.
Environmental risks, including extreme weather and long-term climate change, remain significant. However, compared with previous years, climate risks are increasingly seen as embedded and managed, rather than newly emerging threats.
