“Keep going, bro. You’ve got this!” A data-driven look at how adversaries are weaponizing AI

Cisco Talos researchers have discovered that threat actors are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to significantly enhance their malicious capabilities, bypassing traditional safeguards and exhibiting a surprising range of skill levels. Despite lacking deep technical expertise, novice actors can use AI to create functional tools, while more advanced users are building sophisticated platforms for operations like DDoS attacks and bulk-mail validation. The research highlights a growing trend where AI is becoming a force multiplier for malicious actors, accelerating their ability to develop and deploy attacks, and demonstrating that guardrails are not effective against AI-powered threats.