Artificial intelligence is no longer just powering chatbots or photo filters; it’s now a major weapon in cyber battles.
According to Microsoft’s latest Digital Threats Report, countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are intensifying their use of AI to disseminate disinformation, compromise systems, and deceive online users. In July alone, Microsoft detected over 200 incidents of AI-generated fake content from foreign actors, double last year’s count and ten times more than in 2023. The company warns that this is part of a growing trend in which AI is being leveraged as a digital weapon. How AI is supercharging cyberattacks Hackers and state-sponsored groups are using AI to write convincing phishing emails, generate fake videos or news, and even impersonate government officials. These tools make their attacks more believable and harder to detect. Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft’s Vice President for Customer Security and Trust, calls this moment “pivotal,” saying: This is the year when you absolutely must invest in your cybersecurity basics. AI, she warns, is accelerating faster than many organisations can adapt, and that gap is what hackers are exploiting. Who’s being targeted the most The United States remains the number one target for cyberattacks, with its companies, government systems, and infrastructure constantly under threat. Israel and Ukraine follow next, largely due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts that have now spilled into cyberspace. While Russia, China, and Iran deny their involvement in such operations, Microsoft’s findings suggest otherwise. China, for example, accuses the US of “smearing” it, but the report says these nations are clearly using AI for espionage, disruption, and propaganda. North Korea’s new scam In one of the more surprising examples, North Korea has reportedly created AI-generated fake Americans to apply for remote tech jobs in the US. Once hired, the regime takes their salaries, while the “employees” secretly work on stealing sensitive data or planting malware. Nicole Jiang, CEO of San Francisco–based cybersecurity company Fable, says this is just the beginning. “Cyber is a cat-and-mouse game,” she explains. “Access, data, information, money — that’s what they’re after.” Why this matters for everyone The report isn’t just a warning for governments. It’s a wake-up call for businesses, hospitals, schools, and even individuals. Many organisations still rely on outdated cybersecurity systems, even as digital connections expand through cloud tools, IoT devices, and remote work setups. Experts say AI can also be part of the solution. The same technology that hackers use to deceive can help defenders detect fake content, flag suspicious behaviour, and protect critical systems. AI has changed the nature of cyberwarfare; it’s faster, smarter, and global. As nations race to build advanced AI models, the line between innovation and exploitation keeps blurring.
