AI is more likely to improve and scale existing criminal schemes than to create fundamentally new tactics. At the same time, the biggest future threats are associated with the development of agent-based AI and its integration into physical devices, such as autonomous vehicles.
AI is more likely to improve and scale existing criminal schemes than to create fundamentally new tactics. At the same time, the biggest future threats are associated with the development of agent-based AI and its integration into physical devices, such as autonomous vehicles.
Bjorn R. Watne, Interpol’s global director of information security, told CNBC that fraudsters are increasingly using algorithms to target large numbers of victims at once, while improved translation and digital identification tools are making fraudulent interactions increasingly difficult to detect.
“This is an evolution, not a revolution,” Vatne stressed, emphasizing that the main impact of AI is the increase in the speed and scale of attacks.
Interpol is particularly concerned about agent-based AI that can perform actions on behalf of a user. While a typical chatbot’s errors are limited to providing incorrect information, autonomous actions in the physical realm—such as in connected cars or drones—can result in real-world bodily harm.
According to Vatne, the risks are compounded by the high level of trust people place in new technologies. While in financial services, users remain vigilant about PIN codes or card skimming, in the case of apps and gadgets, they easily grant access and click on prompts without proper verification.
To protect the business, he advises companies to identify their most valuable assets and find out who might be interested in disabling them, rather than trying to close all threats at once. In addition, in many industries there is still a gap between top management and cybersecurity strategy. Vatne emphasized that management should realize that today every company is an IT company, and data protection issues should be discussed directly at the board level.
