Interpol warns AI is accelerating cyber threats, urges companies to prepare

A senior Interpol official has warned that artificial intelligence is increasing both the speed and scale of cyber threats, making it more difficult for organizations to detect and respond to attacks.

According to the warning, AI tools are being used to accelerate existing types of cyberattacks, allowing malicious actors to carry out intrusions more quickly and at a larger scale than was previously possible. The shift represents an evolution of established cyber threats rather than an entirely new category of risk, but one that significantly raises the stakes for organizations trying to defend their systems.

The warning also pointed to the emergence of agentic AI, systems capable of carrying out multi-step tasks with limited human oversight, as a source of new risk for companies. As more organizations adopt these tools for business operations, security experts say they also create fresh vulnerabilities that attackers could potentially exploit.

Companies are being urged to reassess their cybersecurity strategies in light of these developments, with an emphasis on understanding how AI can be used both defensively and offensively. Security specialists generally recommend closer monitoring of AI systems deployed within a company's own operations, as well as preparedness for AI-enhanced attacks from outside actors.

The warning adds to a growing body of concern among international security and law enforcement bodies about the dual-use nature of AI technology in the cybersecurity landscape.