Issue Connected robot fleets open attack surfaces where a breach becomes a physical hazard

Summary

Deloitte flags cybersecurity as a barrier specific to physical AI because these systems create attack surfaces spanning both digital and physical domains. Robots and vehicles connected into fleets widen the exposure. Weaknesses could allow unauthorised access, leaks of data or even hostile takeover of a robot's controls. The stakes rise further when a breach threatens physical safety and the continuity of operations rather than only information. The report ties this to its separate chapter on AI and cyber defence, which lists the convergence of AI with physical infrastructure among future security challenges. It argues that security should be built into AI initiatives from the outset instead of added later.