PwC vs STX Next

PwC warns of AI agent governance gaps and security risks

According to PwC's 'Digital Trust Insights 2027' study, German companies plan to increase cybersecurity investments and delegate more operational responsibility to AI. 47% of executives expect cyber budgets to rise by 6-10% (up from 36% last year). AI applications are a top investment focus for 57%, followed by cloud security (54%) and managed security services (40%). However, governance lags: only 30% prioritize control structures for AI, and 29% would allow AI agents to act fully autonomously. Gaps remain in emergency planning (29% have integrated plans) and industrial OT security (42% cite lack of resources). Additionally, 61% adopt multi/hybrid-cloud to reduce vendor dependency, reflecting growing focus on digital sovereignty.

• 47% of German executives expect cyber budget increases of 6-10% (up from 36% last year).
• 29% of German companies would allow AI agents to act fully autonomously.
• Only 30% of German companies prioritize AI governance and control structures, compared to 42% globally.

AI Drives Cyber Spending; Firms See Risks from Autonomous Systems

According to PwC's 2027 Global Digital Trust Insights Survey, 84% of security and finance executives expect their cyber budgets to increase in the next twelve months, up from 78% last year. AI is a top budget priority for 58% of security leaders, yet only 39% have fully formalized continuity plans that address cyber risks. Attacks on AI systems are the top unprepared threat for 50% of respondents, ahead of cloud threats (40%), third-party attacks (34%), and ransomware (33%). Only 22% would allow AI agents to make autonomous decisions in cyber defense, citing reliability, accountability, and skill gaps. Notably, only 47% say cyber risks are regularly on the board agenda. To mitigate, companies are adopting multi-cloud strategies (54%), regional data redundancy (47%), and improved vendor risk management (50%). The survey covers nearly 4,000 executives across 71 countries.

• 84% of security and finance executives expect cyber budgets to rise in the next 12 months, up from 78% last year.
• 58% of security leaders rank AI as a top cyber budget priority.
• Only 39% of companies have a fully formalized and integrated continuity plan that addresses cyber risks.

AI study platform StudyStash acquired by Kortext

StudyStash, an adaptive AI study platform, has been acquired by edtech company Kortext. The acquisition occurred a year after the founders graduated from the University of Birmingham, with financial terms undisclosed. StudyStash turns course content into personalized flashcards, practice tests, and podcasts, and is used by tens of thousands of students across 160+ institutions in multiple countries. Following the acquisition, founders Ben Ward and Jonathan Graham will remain CEO and CTO, and the company will continue as a distinct brand. The founders are relocating to Silicon Valley to expand in the US market.

• StudyStash was acquired by Kortext, an edtech company.
• The acquisition happened a year after founders graduated from University of Birmingham.
• StudyStash is used in 160+ institutions across UK, Europe, US, and Africa.

STX Next Publishes New Blog Posts on RAG Architecture and AI-Powered Prototyping

New blog posts added: 'How to Choose the Right RAG Architecture for Enterprise AI' (September 18, 2026) and 'How AI-Powered Prototyping Protects Development Budgets in Data Product Delivery' (September 18, 2026). Also updated: 'Top 10 AI Development Companies for Insurance in Europe [2026]' (September 8, 2026) and 'Logo Detection for Sports Video' (September 1, 2026).