The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity Defence Future Trends and Challenges

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the cybersecurity landscape, empowering both attackers and defenders with enhanced speed, scale, and sophistication. While 96% of cybersecurity professionals acknowledge the critical importance of detecting AI-powered threats, only 26% feel confident in their ability to effectively identify them. Key AI-driven trends in cybersecurity include predictive threat intelligence, automated incident response, advanced phishing detection, and behavior-based threat analysis. However, the rise of Agentic AI and Generative AI in cybersecurity presents new challenges, such as adversarial AI and ethical concerns, which necessitate strong governance, transparency, and ethical oversight. It is essential that AI's potential is harnessed in a manner that enhances security without undermining trust.