Artificial intelligence is dramatically increasing the speed, scale, and sophistication of cyber threats, according to Interpol. Rather than creating entirely new forms of crime, AI is enhancing existing tactics like scams and fraud, making them harder to detect and more widespread.
Bjorn R. Watne, Interpol's global chief information security officer, emphasized this point at Tech Week Singapore, stating that AI is an "evolution and not a revolution" in criminal capabilities. Scammers are now leveraging AI for simultaneous mass targeting of victims, alongside improved translation and digital identity forgery, blurring the lines between legitimate and fraudulent interactions.
What Businesses Need to Protect
As cyber threats advance, companies must strategically prioritize their defenses. Watne advises businesses to first identify their "crown jewels"—the most critical assets essential for operational continuity. Following this, they should determine who would be most motivated to steal or disrupt these assets.
By employing threat intelligence, companies can then understand the specific tactics and technologies used by these adversaries and customize their cybersecurity measures accordingly. "There is no need for everyone to try and protect against everything all at once when they're not being targeted by it," Watne explained. The level of defense required can vary significantly, depending on whether a company faces opportunistic criminals or sophisticated advanced persistent threat (APT) actors.
A common impediment, Watne noted, is a persistent disconnect between senior management and their organization's cybersecurity strategy. Many industries have yet to fully grasp that they are, at their core, IT companies today. While cyber risk is gaining prominence on corporate risk registers, cybersecurity's full integration into boardroom discussions remains a challenge for many.
Agentic AI: A New Frontier of Risk
Watne expressed particular concern over "agentic AI"—systems capable of taking autonomous actions on behalf of users. He warned that errors could escalate beyond mere misinformation to tangible, real-world consequences, particularly in physical domains.
"One thing is that an AI is feeding you the wrong information," Watne stated. "But when an AI is actually performing an action and it starts doing the wrong actions, especially in the physical domain, that can have consequences on bodily harm of humans." He cited the increasing deployment of AI in devices like cars and self-driving vehicles as a significant area of potential risk.
Compounding these dangers is the high level of trust individuals often place in technology, often exceeding their caution in areas like financial services. While people typically employ safeguards like PIN codes and remain vigilant against risks such as card skimming in financial transactions, they tend to adopt new technologies and grant access with less scrutiny.
"When it comes to technology, the trust level is through the roof," Watne observed, highlighting how readily users click through prompts and authorize new apps and devices. As AI systems become more autonomous, he urged for a critical re-evaluation of this inherent trust.
This picture taken on November 23, 2021, shows the logo of Interpol during the 89th Interpol General Assembly in Istanbul.
Ozan Kose | AFP | Getty Images
