Cyber security experts are warning of a sharp escalation in online crime, as hackers increasingly harness artificial intelligence to carry out sophisticated and difficult-to-detect attacks. Researchers at Google have identified a concerning trend in early 2026, with cyber criminals combining AI tools to create highly convincing and complex attack methods. Among these is the use of the company’s Gemini system to assist with reconnaissance, develop malicious tools and refine operational tactics.
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In some cases, attackers have paired these capabilities with deepfake technology to deceive victims during spoofed video calls. One reported incident involved a group linked to North Korea using an AI-generated likeness of a senior executive to trick a target into compromising their computer systems.
Experts say such techniques form part of a broader surge in AI-enabled cyber crime, driving record levels of fraud, data breaches and financial losses. The growing accessibility of AI tools has effectively automated skills once reliant on human expertise, including persuasion, impersonation and coding. Traditional scams such as phishing have evolved significantly with the advent of generative AI. Criminals can now produce highly personalised messages and impersonations, mimicking colleagues, friends or family members with striking accuracy.
These attacks may take the form of convincing emails, cloned voice calls or even fabricated video appearances. According to Brian Sibley, chief technology officer at IT consultancy Espria, the effectiveness of such methods has increased dramatically, leaving behavioural monitoring as one of the few reliable defences.
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A report by cyber security firm Group-IB found that ready-made phishing kits—complete with AI-generated video identities, voice clones and biometric data—can be obtained on the dark web at minimal cost. The firm’s chief executive, Dmitry Volkov, said AI is enabling criminals to scale their operations and tailor attacks with unprecedented precision.
One particularly concerning trend is the growth of so-called “pig butchering” scams. These schemes involve cultivating long-term relationships with victims—often over weeks or months—before presenting fraudulent investment opportunities.
AI tools, including conversational systems such as ChatGPT, are increasingly used to maintain convincing interactions. Combined with deepfake imagery and face-swapping technology, scammers can create the illusion of genuine relationships, making it far more difficult for victims to detect deception. Authorities have observed organised crime groups, particularly in parts of South-East Asia, deploying these tactics at scale, overcoming language barriers and technical limitations.
Artificial intelligence is also transforming the development of malicious software. New forms of “autonomous malware” are capable of rewriting their own code in real time, enabling them to evade traditional security systems.
Google researchers have described this as a new phase in AI misuse, highlighting tools such as Promptflux, which can continuously alter their structure using a “Thinking Robot” function. Although still in development, such technology is seen as an early indication of how cyber attacks may evolve.
The rapid adoption of AI by criminal networks has led some analysts to describe the current landscape as the “fifth wave” of cyber crime. Data from cyber security firm Vectra AI indicates that AI-driven scams surged by 1,200 per cent in 2025, with further growth expected. Forecasts suggest that global losses from AI-related fraud could reach $40 billion by 2027, up from $16.6 billion in 2024.
Craig Jones, former director of cybercrime at Interpol, warned that artificial intelligence has fundamentally altered the nature of online crime. He noted that attacks are now faster, more scalable and increasingly difficult to trace.
“AI has effectively industrialised cyber crime,” he said, adding that the combination of speed, volume and sophisticated impersonation marks a significant shift in how offences are carried out—and how challenging they are to prevent.
