Introduction
Almost as soon as generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as ChatGPT, came on the scene, the public began to imagine dystopian scenarios. Critics of emerging AI warned of ChatGPT's ability to create deep fakes, generate misleading content, and even replicate the creative work of real people. The comedian Sarah Silverman sued Open AI, the makers of ChatGPT, for using her memoir to train the bot without her permission—a case that underscored the far-reaching implications of unregulated AI.
The concerns extend well beyond intellectual property. Even AI creators themselves have implored the U.S. government to establish regulations to prevent the technology from being abused. At a recent United Nations Security Council Meeting, the U.N. Secretary General warned that "Generative AI has enormous potential for good and evil at scale." The U.N. is particularly concerned that cyberterrorists or enemy nation-states might weaponize AI to launch attacks on critical infrastructure, financial systems, and healthcare networks.
But beyond the geopolitical stage, the question that matters most to businesses is this: how can emerging AI technology increase cybersecurity risk for your company? From generating malware code to crafting convincing phishing emails to scouting for network vulnerabilities, AI is empowering cybercriminals at an unprecedented pace. Understanding these threats is the first step toward building a resilient defense strategy.
Recently, bad actors have been quick to leverage AI technology to find vulnerabilities and develop tools, as well as stage malware attacks and breaches of company networks. What once required advanced coding expertise and significant investment in malware-as-a-service on the Dark Web can now be accomplished by cybercriminals with little to no technical background. Generative AI, such as ChatGPT 4.0, can be used to generate malware code without the need for specialized knowledge, effectively democratizing cybercrime.
The process is alarmingly straightforward. Hackers can give ChatGPT broad malware parameters to use in creating the necessary code to stage a malware attack. By feeding the AI specific instructions about targets, delivery mechanisms, and desired outcomes, cybercriminals can produce functional malicious code in a fraction of the time it would have taken using traditional methods. Some cybercriminals have even used ChatGPT to create black-market platforms for buying and selling malware and other tools to be used for cybercrime, further expanding the reach and scale of these threats.
This shift represents a fundamental change in the cybersecurity landscape. Companies can no longer assume that the complexity of launching a cyberattack serves as a natural barrier. With AI-generated malware becoming more accessible, businesses of all sizes must prioritize proactive security measures—including regular vulnerability assessments and advanced endpoint protection—to defend against this growing wave of AI-enabled threats.
<h2><strong>Enhancing Phishing Emails: Social Engineering Supercharged by AI</strong></h2>
For a while now, cybercriminals have been using social engineering techniques to draft phishing emails that convincingly imitate co-workers and authority figures. These phishing emails convince employees to click on website links and attachments that are infected with malware or even send gift cards and money to hackers. Phishing has long been one of the most effective attack vectors, but emerging AI is making it significantly more dangerous.
Now, generative AI can be used to create convincing phishing emails that are nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communications. Generative AI is trained to imitate writing styles, so it can easily craft an email in the voice of someone who is known to the targeted employee, such as a supervisor or fellow employee. Gone are the days when phishing attempts were riddled with grammatical errors and obvious red flags. AI-generated phishing messages are polished, personalized, and contextually relevant—making them far more likely to deceive even security-conscious employees.
This evolution in phishing tactics demands that companies invest in comprehensive employee training programs and advanced email security solutions. Awareness alone is no longer sufficient when the threats are this sophisticated. Businesses need layered defenses—combining AI-powered threat detection with human vigilance—to reduce the risk of falling victim to these increasingly convincing social engineering attacks.
AI technology can be used to find security vulnerabilities within a company's systems with remarkable speed and precision. All hackers need to do is give ChatGPT prompts for discovering low-hanging fruit to use in staging a breach. What previously required manual reconnaissance and deep technical expertise can now be automated, enabling cybercriminals to identify exploitable weaknesses faster than many companies can patch them.
Chatbots can be used to uncover software vulnerabilities, such as unpatched applications and bugs in new software for staging zero-day exploits—which refer to computer-software vulnerabilities previously unknown to those who should be concerned about their mitigation, such as the vendor of the target software. Additionally, cybercriminals can use AI to search for and uncover vulnerabilities in a company's network, mapping out potential entry points and escalation paths that could lead to a full-scale data breach.
This capability means that organizations must adopt an equally proactive approach to vulnerability management. Regular penetration testing, timely patch management, and continuous network monitoring are no longer optional—they are essential components of a modern cybersecurity strategy. Companies that fail to keep pace with the speed at which AI can identify weaknesses risk leaving their most critical assets exposed to exploitation.
The Takeaway for IT Buyers
As AI evolves, becoming more advanced and pervasive in our culture, companies like yours may struggle to keep up with the security threats the technology presents. Every company is different, so your business needs to get a clear picture of your slice of the cyber threat landscape along with a sense of the gaps in your approach to fighting AI risk. From AI-generated malware and supercharged phishing campaigns to automated vulnerability scouting, the threats are real, growing, and increasingly difficult to detect without the right expertise and tools.
Derive Technologies can help you fight emerging risks by conducting a free security assessment. During the process, our analysts check for vulnerabilities, such as your company's chances of falling victim to a phishing attack, unpatched software exposures, and network configuration weaknesses. As a Cisco Premier Certified Partner, we can provide your company with the leading network security solutions you need to defend against AI-generated threats. We also partner with Gradient Cyber, a leader in threat monitoring, and Check Point, a top security software provider—ensuring that your defenses are multi-layered and built to withstand the most sophisticated attacks.
With these leading partners, Derive Technologies helps our customers stay ahead of emerging AI threats and maintain a strong security posture in an ever-changing landscape. Don't wait for a breach to reveal the gaps in your defenses. Find out more about how your company can decrease the risk created by emerging AI technology. Request a free security assessment from Derive Technologies today and take the first step toward a more secure future.