AI tools accelerate cybercrime tactics

Cybercriminals last year did not need more sophistication to intensify data theft campaigns, as AI-enabled tools made attacks faster and more efficient. Attacks by AI-powered hackers jumped 89 per cent from the previous year, underscoring how automation and AI capabilities are reshaping both the targets and methods used in cybercrime.

Dr Gatra Priyandita from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute examined whether AI can give defenders enough of an advantage to offset its growing value to offensive hackers. The discussion framed AI as a dual-use force in cybersecurity, strengthening threat actors while also offering potential improvements for cyber defence.

The focus on data theft highlights concern that AI-enabled tools are changing not only the speed of attacks, but also how criminals identify opportunities and execute operations. The central question is whether defensive AI adoption can scale quickly enough to blunt those gains.