Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: A Relationship of Allies and Threats
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved beyond being a futuristic concept to become a cross-cutting tool in virtually every sector. In the field of cybersecurity, it represents a strategic advantage because it enables pattern detection, process automation, and the anticipation of threats that previously went unnoticed.
However, this very capability that makes it an ally also opens the door to new risks and ethical dilemmas that organizations must face.
What do we mean by AI in cybersecurity?
AI applied to digital protection is primarily based on two technological approaches: Machine Learning, which uses historical data to train predictive models, and Deep Learning, which employs neural networks inspired by the human brain to recognize more complex patterns.
These models can be trained using different methods: supervised learning, which requires examples labeled by experts; unsupervised learning, which seeks patterns without previously categorized data; and reinforcement learning, where the system evolves through rewards based on its correct actions.
Thanks to these techniques, AI is capable of analyzing millions of events in seconds, identifying anomalies in network traffic, automating malware detection, and performing actions that previously required hours of human intervention. The impact is clear: it frees security personnel from repetitive tasks and allows them to focus on critical decision-making.
Current Use Cases
Today, AI is integrated into various cybersecurity solutions. It is used in threat intelligence analysis to simplify complex information, in virtual assistants that provide immediate support, in awareness programs that reinforce security education, in automated sandboxes for analyzing malicious code, as well as in advanced spam and anti-phishing filtering systems.
ESET's Vision
At ESET, work with Artificial Intelligence began long before it became a media trend. The development of this technology has relied on massive databases of classified malware samples, proprietary algorithms in constant evolution, and labeling processes that ensure accuracy in the models.
However, experience has shown that AI does not replace the human factor. Analyst oversight remains indispensable to audit, interpret, and make decisions based on criteria that machines are still unable to replicate. The combination of automated systems and human specialists constitutes the most reliable formula for achieving solid results.
Limits and Risks
Despite its potential, AI has limitations. It can generate false positives that affect critical processes, degrade its accuracy if models are not continuously updated, and lack long-term reliability in changing environments. Additionally, just as it protects, it can also be used for malicious purposes.
At the end of 2024, for example, a report by OpenAI revealed how language models like ChatGPT had been exploited by cybercriminals to design more persuasive phishing campaigns, generate likely passwords, create fake images, and increase the effectiveness of targeted attacks. This type of incident demonstrates that AI is, at the same time, both a shield and a weapon.
Emerging Threats
The malicious use of Artificial Intelligence opens the door to unprecedented scenarios: creation of false leads to divert investigations, learning-capable botnets, automated vulnerability scanning, and even targeted attacks against the AI models themselves. Among the latter are malicious instruction injection (prompt injection), manipulation of training data (data poisoning), exposure of sensitive information, and insecure handling of models in production.
Ethics and Regulation
The rapid expansion of AI raises questions that still lack universal answers. Who is responsible if an AI system causes harm? Which decisions should remain exclusively under human control in sectors such as healthcare or justice? How can we prevent AI from spreading misinformation and biases?
To move forward safely, stronger regulatory frameworks are required, along with greater scrutiny of algorithms, strict protection of personal data, clear ethical standards in solution development, and international cooperation to monitor and mitigate risks collectively.
Conclusion
Artificial Intelligence applied to cybersecurity is a double-edged sword. It can strengthen our defenses, but it also increases the capabilities of cybercrime. The future is not about choosing between humans or machines, but about leveraging the synergy between both, always ensuring that final decisions remain in human hands.
The real challenge will be to regulate, audit, and apply AI ethically and responsibly, ensuring that it remains an ally rather than an existential risk to digital security.
