Analyzing large amounts of publicly available information.
Assisting with the identification of software vulnerabilities.
Producing convincing content in multiple languages.
However, it is important to understand that AI does not automatically enable fully autonomous cyberattacks. In many cases, it remains a supporting tool used by human attackers.
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned that artificial intelligence can increase the effectiveness of existing cyberattack techniques while allowing malicious activities to be conducted on a larger scale.
1. AI-Powered Phishing Attacks
Phishing is one of the most common forms of cybercrime. Attackers impersonate trusted organizations, institutions, or individuals to steal sensitive information, obtain login credentials, or trick victims into transferring money.
Artificial intelligence is making these attacks increasingly difficult to recognize.
Cybercriminals can use large language models to generate grammatically correct emails, professional-looking messages, and personalized communications.
Example: An employee receives an email that appears to come from the company's IT department. The message requests urgent verification of their login credentials. It uses professional language, appropriate technical terminology, and references actual company procedures.
In reality, the message may have been generated with AI and designed to redirect the employee to a fraudulent login page.
The biggest challenge is that correct grammar and professional writing are no longer reliable indicators of authenticity.
As AI-generated messages become more sophisticated, users must pay greater attention to the sender's identity, suspicious links, and unexpected requests rather than relying solely on language quality.
2. Voice Cloning and AI-Powered Phone Scams
One of the most concerning applications of artificial intelligence is the ability to generate synthetic voices that closely resemble real people.
AI-powered voice cloning can be misused to impersonate family members, colleagues, executives, or representatives of trusted organizations.
Example: An employee in the finance department receives a phone call from someone whose voice sounds exactly like the company's CEO. The caller explains that an urgent payment must be completed immediately.
However, the person on the phone may actually be a scammer using an AI-generated voice.
This type of attack is commonly associated with voice phishing, also known as vishing.
Voice cloning makes these scams particularly dangerous because people naturally associate familiar voices with trusted individuals.
The most important lesson is that even a recognizable voice should never be the only basis for authorizing financial transactions or sharing confidential information.
Organizations should establish clear verification procedures for unusual financial requests, regardless of who appears to be making them.
3. Deepfakes and Manipulated Videos
Deepfake technology allows artificial intelligence to generate or modify audio and video content in ways that can make it appear authentic.
Cybercriminals can use deepfakes to impersonate public figures, company executives, government representatives, and other trusted individuals.
Common examples include:
Fake celebrity endorsements promoting investment scams.
Impersonating company executives during video conferences.
Creating fabricated recordings intended to pressure or threaten victims.
Spreading misleading information and disinformation.
Producing fraudulent promotional videos for fake products or services.
In July 2026, the FBI warned about scammers using AI-generated videos to impersonate representatives of American law enforcement agencies and direct victims to fraudulent websites.
What makes deepfakes especially concerning is their improving visual and audio quality.
In some situations, manipulated content may be difficult to distinguish from authentic recordings through visual inspection alone.
This means that people and organizations should avoid treating video or audio evidence as automatically trustworthy, especially when it involves unexpected financial requests or sensitive information.
4. Automated Information Gathering About Potential Victims
Artificial intelligence can also help cybercriminals during the preparation stages of an attack.
AI-powered tools can assist in analyzing publicly available information from professional networking platforms, company websites, social media profiles, and online publications.
This information can then be used to create more targeted and convincing scams.
For example, an attacker may identify:
Employees responsible for financial transactions.
Technologies and software used by an organization.
Internal reporting structures and management relationships.
Publicly announced projects or business partnerships.
Information that could make fraudulent messages appear legitimate.
The danger does not necessarily come from a single piece of information.
Instead, the risk increases when many seemingly harmless details are combined to create a convincing attack scenario.
This approach is closely related to social engineering, where attackers manipulate people rather than directly exploiting technical vulnerabilities.
As AI makes information analysis faster and more accessible, managing publicly shared personal and organizational information becomes increasingly important.
5. AI-Assisted Malware Development
Artificial intelligence can also support more technically sophisticated cybercriminal activities.
Modern AI models are capable of analyzing source code, identifying programming errors, explaining software functionality, and assisting with software development.
These capabilities are extremely valuable for legitimate developers and security professionals, but they can also be misused.
In cybersecurity, criminals may attempt to use AI to:
Assist with the analysis of software vulnerabilities.
Modify existing malicious code.
Automate selected technical tasks.
Analyze software behavior and potential weaknesses.
Support certain stages of cyberattack preparation.
However, this does not mean that every AI system can independently create sophisticated malware or successfully compromise complex environments.
Advanced cyberattacks often continue to require technical expertise, practical experience, and human decision-making.
For organizations, the increasing use of AI in cybercrime reinforces the importance of regular security updates, vulnerability management, endpoint protection, and continuous monitoring.
6. Fake Profiles and Social Media Scams
Generative artificial intelligence makes it easier to create realistic profile pictures, professional biographies, and personalized messages.
Cybercriminals can use these capabilities to establish convincing fake identities across social media platforms and professional networking websites.
For example, an attacker might create a fictional profile representing a recruiter, financial advisor, technology specialist, or company representative.
The profile may include an AI-generated photograph, a convincing employment history, and professionally written posts.
The scammer can then communicate with potential victims over an extended period, gradually building trust.
Eventually, the victim may be encouraged to share sensitive information, install suspicious software, or transfer money.
In this situation, the greatest threat is not the image-generation technology itself.
The real danger comes from using artificial intelligence to manipulate human trust and create believable false identities.
This is why users should verify unfamiliar contacts and remain cautious when online relationships lead to requests involving money, credentials, or confidential information.
7. Fake AI Tools and Fraudulent Websites
The growing popularity of artificial intelligence has created another opportunity for cybercriminals.
Scammers can build websites that closely resemble the official platforms of well-known AI services.
These fraudulent websites may advertise free access to premium AI models, exclusive features, or downloadable applications.
In reality, they may be designed to steal login credentials, collect personal information, or distribute malicious software.
The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has previously highlighted incidents in which the popularity of generative AI tools was used as bait in cybercriminal campaigns.
Before installing an AI application or registering for a new service, users should verify the provider, check the official website, and review the permissions requested by the application.
Downloading software directly from trusted vendors and official distribution channels can significantly reduce unnecessary exposure to these threats.
How Can You Protect Yourself Against AI-Powered Cyberattacks?
Although artificial intelligence is changing how cybercriminals operate, many fundamental cybersecurity practices remain highly effective.
1. Verify unusual requests
If you receive an urgent request to transfer money, provide a password, or disclose confidential information, confirm it through a separate, previously established communication channel.
2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication provides an additional layer of account protection, helping reduce the risk of unauthorized access even if a password is compromised.
3. Be cautious with links and attachments
Avoid opening suspicious files and carefully examine website addresses, especially when messages create a sense of urgency.
4. Keep software updated
Regular security updates help address known vulnerabilities that attackers might otherwise exploit.
5. Limit publicly available personal information
Consider what details about your responsibilities, workplace, projects, and personal life you share online.
6. Introduce additional verification for financial transactions
Organizations should establish independent approval procedures for unusual payments, changes to bank account details, and requests involving sensitive business information.
7. Improve cybersecurity awareness
Regular training on phishing, deepfakes, social engineering, and online scams can help employees recognize suspicious situations more effectively.
Suspicious cybercrime activity can also be reported through the appropriate national cybersecurity authorities. In the United States, victims can report internet-related crimes through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Can Artificial Intelligence Also Protect Against Cyberattacks?
Absolutely. Artificial intelligence is not only used by cybercriminals. It is also becoming an important part of modern cybersecurity systems.
Security professionals use AI and machine learning to analyze large amounts of information, identify suspicious patterns, and support incident response.
Common applications include:
Detecting unusual user behavior.
Analyzing suspicious network traffic.
Identifying potentially malicious files.
Supporting security incident investigations.
Prioritizing security alerts and potential threats.
Helping analysts investigate complex cybersecurity events.
These capabilities can improve the efficiency of security operations and help organizations respond more quickly to certain types of threats.
However, AI-powered security solutions are not a complete replacement for experienced cybersecurity professionals.
Human expertise, established security procedures, and appropriate technical controls remain essential.
The Future of Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasingly important role in both cybercrime and cybersecurity.
The ENISA Threat Landscape 2026 report highlights the growing use of AI to support malicious activities, as well as emerging risks associated with integrating AI systems into organizational environments.
In the coming years, we can expect further development of AI-assisted threat detection alongside increasingly sophisticated methods of online deception.
Cybercriminals may continue improving their ability to generate convincing communications, imitate trusted individuals, and personalize fraudulent activities.
At the same time, cybersecurity teams will have opportunities to use AI to improve threat analysis, incident detection, and security operations.
One of the most important skills will therefore be the ability to critically evaluate information and recognize situations in which attackers attempt to exploit trust, urgency, or perceived authority.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence did not create cybercrime, but it has introduced new ways for attackers to improve and scale existing techniques.
AI-powered phishing, voice cloning, deepfakes, fake online profiles, and fraudulent AI services demonstrate that modern cybersecurity threats extend far beyond traditional computer viruses.
The key takeaway is simple: Not every professionally written message, familiar voice, or realistic video recording is necessarily authentic.
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, protecting personal and business information will require a combination of technical safeguards, informed decision-making, and ongoing cybersecurity awareness.
Understanding how cybercriminals use AI is an important first step toward recognizing emerging threats and building stronger digital security practices.
Sources and Further Reading
