AI is transforming the cyber landscape. Attackers are moving faster, personalising at scale, and automating what once took hours. Yet for all the noise, one truth remains: AI amplifies existing risks; it doesn’t reinvent them.
The real danger isn’t just from smarter attacks. It’s from how organisations respond. Fear of the unknown can lead to rushed spending, fragmented projects, or attention being pulled away from what already works. The smart move isn’t to start from scratch, but to adapt and strengthen the defences you already have.
The AI effect: a multiplier, not a revolution
AI boosts the efficiency and scale of familiar attack techniques. It’s the same playbook, only faster and more precise.
Research into AI-related threats reinforces this view. Efforts to classify “AI attacks” using frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK often show that most fit comfortably within existing categories. A prompt injection, for example, looks a lot like a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. Both exploit trusted inputs to change how systems behave. The mechanics are familiar — what’s changed is the speed and scale.
That’s why it helps to think of AI as a multiplier of existing risks, not a creator of new ones.
Where a basic control failure might once have caused a modest loss, an AI-powered attack can turn that same weakness into something much more damaging — more data exfiltrated, more systems compromised, or the same exploit carried out hundreds of times faster.
- Automation at scale: AI helps attackers find and exploit weaknesses in seconds. That means more attacks, more often, and less time to react. The challenge is keeping your defences just as quick.
- Smarter phishing: Crafting convincing emails, voice messages or fake videos is easier than ever. But it’s still social engineering, exploiting trust, curiosity, or haste.
- Adaptive malware: AI lets malware change its form to slip past static detection tools. It’s harder to spot, but it’s still designed to steal data, disrupt operations, or hold systems to ransom.
AI increases the volume and precision of attacks, but the objectives haven’t changed. It’s evolution, not revolution.
The real risk: reacting to the hype
Many organisations risk being distracted by the novelty of AI threats. There’s a temptation to buy new tools or launch AI-specific programmes that add complexity without solving the real problem.
What matters most is staying focused on the basics that protect you today: visibility, control, and readiness. The goal is not to panic, but to adapt deliberately.
Adapt, don’t overhaul
When facing AI-enhanced threats, focus on improving what already works. Three practical shifts can make the difference:
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Prioritise responsiveness.
As attacks accelerate, speed matters more than ever. Review your detection and incident response plans. Make sure your teams can act quickly and confidently when something happens.
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Reinforce the fundamentals.
Strong identity controls, patching, and user awareness still stop most attacks. Keep training relevant by including AI-enabled scams and verifying important requests through trusted channels.
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Use AI for defence.
Apply machine learning and automation in your own monitoring and response. Let AI help you spot anomalies, connect signals faster, and take routine action automatically.
You don’t need to reinvent your entire security setup. Small, focused improvements will keep you resilient as the threat landscape changes.
The payoff: resilience without disruption
By enhancing rather than overhauling, you build agility without creating unnecessary complexity. You stay ready for new risks while protecting the foundations that already work.
When everything feels like it’s changing, confidence comes from knowing what stays the same. AI is the next chapter in cyber risk, not a new book entirely. The organisations that adapt calmly, instead of reacting in fear, will come out stronger and more resilient.
Final thought
AI changes the pace, not the principles, of cyber security. It multiplies familiar risks and makes the basics more important than ever. The challenge for leaders is to stay focused on what truly matters: adaptable defences, clear priorities, and steady confidence in the face of change.
Lucia Turner
Niall McElroy
Andrei Draghiciu
Helen Giddings