Guardians or threats? The double-edged role of artificial intelligence in cyber security

Abstract

Objectives: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force within the domain of cyber security, offering significant advancements in threat detection, risk assessment, and automated response. Prior work: Leveraging machine learning, natural language processing, and anomaly detection algorithms, AI-driven systems enable organizations to process vast volumes of data, identify patterns of malicious behavior, and mitigate potential cyber threats with increased speed and accuracy. These innovations have positioned AI as a cornerstone in modern cyber defense strategies. However, the same technologies that enhance defensive capabilities are increasingly exploited by adversaries to conduct more sophisticated, targeted, and evasive cyberattacks. Malicious actors utilize AI to develop adaptive malware, automate vulnerability exploitation, and execute advanced phishing and social engineering schemes - including the deployment of deepfakes and synthetic identities. This dual-use nature of AI introduces a complex landscape in which the boundaries between protective tools and offensive weapons are increasingly blurred. Approach: This article offers a comprehensive examination of AI’s dual role in cyber security, analyzing both its utility in enhancing defensive frameworks and its potential as a tool for cyber offense. Implications: It further explores the ethical, legal, and governance challenges posed by AI integration, including issues of algorithmic transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance. Value: Through a review of contemporary applications, emerging threats, and current policy responses, the article provides a critical assessment of the opportunities and risks associated with AI in cyber security, and proposes recommendations for building resilient, ethically grounded, and forward-looking security infrastructures.