Microsoft: Russia, China Increasingly Using AI to Escalate Cyberattacks on the US

According to Microsoft, Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have sharply increased their use of artificial intelligence to deceive people online and mount cyberattacks against the United States. The findings, published in Microsoft’s digital threats report, show that this July there were more than 200 instances of foreign adversaries using AI to create fake content online, more than double the figure for July 2024 and more than ten times the number seen in 2023.

The report notes that these adversaries are using AI to automate and improve cyberattacks, spread disinformation and target governments, businesses and critical systems. The United States remains the top target for cyberattacks, with Israel and Ukraine following as the second and third most common targets. Amy Hogan-Burney of Microsoft, who oversaw the report, described the period as a pivotal moment for cyber defences and urged investment in cybersecurity basics. The article adds that many US organisations rely on outdated cyber defences even as networks expand with new digital connections.