Davos 2026: Accenture to set up Bengaluru lab focused on physical AI, robotics security

Paolo Dal Cin, global lead for cybersecurity at Accenture, in conversation with Chandra R Srikanth, Executive Editor, Moneycontrol at WEF 2026 in Davos.

• Accenture to open a robotics and physical AI security lab in Bengaluru
• Lab will focus on securing AI-driven robots amid rising cyber threats
• Accenture highlights need for broader cybersecurity talent and collaboration

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Accenture is setting up a lab in Bengaluru focused on security for physical artificial intelligence and robotics, as the information technology (IT) and consulting major sharpens its focus on how AI is reshaping the cyber threat landscape for enterprises globally.

The lab will be part of Accenture’s Cyber Fusion Centre in Bengaluru, which already houses specialised labs for AI, quantum and operational technology (OT) security.

“In Bangalore, we have our best cyber fusion centre, globally speaking, with specific cyber lab for security AI, for quantum security, for OT security. And we are now launching a new lab for robotics and physical AI,” Paolo Dal Cin, global lead for cybersecurity at Accenture, told Moneycontrol on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 annual meeting in Davos.

Accenture’s cybersecurity business is worth $10 billion, with around 30,000 security professionals worldwide. Of these, 13,000 are based in India, highlighting the scale of India’s role in Accenture’s cyber practice.

Bengaluru cyber fusion centre is one of its key global hubs and the new lab adds another layer to it.

AI is changing cybersecurity

Paolo added that the global environment has become more severe with the rise of AI-driven attacks, where threat actors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to speed up and orchestrate cyber intrusions.

AI is “supercharging” cybersecurity, both on the offensive and defensive sides, but the bigger concern is the pace at which attacks are being executed, according to the world’s largest IT services company.

Paolo also pointed to rising geopolitical unrest as a key driver behind the shift, with trade wars, conflicts and technology competition increasing activity from nation-state threat actors targeting not just governments but also private companies and national critical infrastructure.

Why Accenture is pushing into robotics, physical AI security

Accenture is moving early to address what it sees as an emerging risk, as robots increasingly combine physical capabilities with AI intelligence.

Robots built with physical AI can pose significant risks for enterprises, citizens and governments, and Accenture wants to be among the first players focused on securing such systems.

Paolo said cybersecurity talent remains a global challenge, with around 5 million open cyber job postings unfilled.

While India continues to be a strong talent base, Accenture said the hiring funnel needs to widen beyond just STEM degrees, with deeper university partnerships and a broader talent pool.

“AI will help to fill partially the gap of talent we have and our vision is a human plus machine,” the cyber head said.

Prompt injection, data leak top agenda

Enterprises are now moving quickly to secure AI applications and large language models (LLMs), as Accenture worries about risks such as "prompt injection attacks" that can lead to unauthorised extraction of sensitive information, confidential data and intellectual property.

Paolo expects companies to build a securisation layer on top of LLMs, whether they are commercial models or open-source models, to improve trust across the AI environment.

Cybersecurity is a systemic risk that does not stop at borders, making collaboration essential across industries, national security agencies, and supply chains.

This includes sharing threat intelligence across peers, building stronger coordination with national agencies and conducting cyber-attack and crisis simulations involving multiple parties.