By Gerald Chikodzi (MBA)

The cybersecurity landscape is rapidly evolving with artificial intelligence (AI) acting as both a catalyst for innovation and a new vector for cyber threats. AI empowers defenders with automated threat detection, anomaly identification, and predictive analytics that strengthen organisational resilience. However, adversaries also exploit AI capabilities to launch sophisticated attacks, increasing cybersecurity complexity exponentially.

Emerging threats like “Dark AI” enable hackers to bypass security filters, manipulate machine learning systems, and generate convincing deepfakes that facilitate social engineering attacks. Malicious actors automate phishing campaigns and malware deployment using AI at unprecedented scale, driving the cost-efficiency of attacks down while raising defense challenges.

Weaponised generative AI tools such as “EvilGPT” and “FraudGPT” have demonstrated how artificial intelligence can craft highly convincing phishing messages and even create malware code designed to outsmart existing defense mechanisms. This dual-use nature of AI demands an adaptive cybersecurity strategy that goes beyond traditional technical controls.

Another critical dimension is the insatiable data appetite of AI systems. Employees unknowingly submit sensitive corporate and customer data into AI models, creating new avenues for data leakage and privacy risks. As data becomes the new gold, businesses face increasing governance challenges around responsible AI use and data protection.

A strategic response to these evolving AI threats involves instituting structured AI governance frameworks. The ISO/IEC 42001:2023 standard offers a comprehensive management system framework for responsible AI deployment, emphasising risk management, ethical AI, transparency, and integration with established cybersecurity standards like ISO/IEC 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and COBIT 2019.

By integrating AI governance, organisations can balance innovation with security by operationalising ethical AI principles, mitigating risks such as bias and adversarial attacks, and building resilience against AI-driven cyber threats. Today’s cybersecurity leaders must champion these governance initiatives to secure trust and enable sustainable business growth in the AI era.