In 2024, it's nearly impossible to talk about technology without mentioning Generative Artificial Intelligence. Since the public release of ChatGPT in late 2022, the technology has gained widespread attention and adoption across industries.
Today, Generative AI is used in everyday tasks—from work to school to entertainment. But like any widely available technology, it has a dark side: bad actors are also using it to develop more sophisticated cyberattacks.
The good news? Cybersecurity professionals are also using Generative AI to build smarter, more efficient defenses, especially in the corporate world.
What Is Generative AI?
Generative AI refers to AI systems that can create content, including text, images, code, and more—based entirely on user input or "prompts."
While individuals use it for productivity and creativity, companies in healthcare, finance, infrastructure, and other sectors are adopting it to gain efficiency and agility in operations.
But the same tools that automate work can also be exploited to generate smarter, faster, and harder-to-detect attacks—a growing concern in the field of cybersecurity.
What Is Cybersecurity and Why Does It Matter?
In simple terms, cybersecurity protects data from unauthorized access or misuse. Whether it’s proprietary business information or customer data, companies must ensure that digital assets are used solely for their intended purposes.
This need is why laws like Brazil’s LGPD exist—to protect individuals from having their personal data fall into the wrong hands.
Cyberattacks are constantly happening, targeting organizations of all sizes. Hackers aim to steal sensitive information, such as:
- Product formulas
- Financial records
- Bank account details
- User data (e.g., name, ID, email, address)
The Growing Role of Generative AI in Cyber Threats
Generative AI makes it easier to identify system vulnerabilities and create convincing phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering campaigns.
By 2025, cyberattacks are expected to cost businesses and governments $10.5 trillion annually, a 300% increase compared to 2015. Meanwhile, cybersecurity spending sits at around $225 billion—far below what’s needed to stay ahead.
Generative AI is particularly effective for phishing scams, generating realistic fake websites, emails, and messages at scale. These models can absorb real-time data and impersonate legitimate sources to trick users.
In 2022, Zscaler reported a 47% increase in AI-powered phishing attacks. Unlike human hackers, AI models work 24/7, scanning for vulnerabilities and executing attacks with precision.
The Bright Side: Using AI to Defend Against Cyber Threats
Fortunately, Generative AI can also work on the defense side.
Cybersecurity experts are leveraging AI to build automated threat detection systems, monitor networks, and assist human analysts. AI is exceptionally good at spotting anomalies in network traffic, identifying threats faster and more reliably than traditional tools.
These systems are especially valuable for small teams or companies without deep cybersecurity expertise, offering:
- AI-powered alerts
- Real-time incident detection
- Plain-language security reports for engineers
- Penetration testing and vulnerability simulation
How the Industry Is Responding
The tech industry is rapidly embracing AI for cybersecurity.
- CrowdStrike’s Charlotte AI acts as a virtual security analyst, automating basic tasks and learning from human feedback, intrusion detection systems, and incident response teams. It improves internal threat intelligence by more than 200%.
- Microsoft Security Copilot uses over 78 trillion daily security signals to support IT and security professionals in threat assessment, coding, and defense strategies. It’s expected to make analysts 22% faster and nearly 7% more accurate.
- Google integrated Generative AI into its cybersecurity ecosystem in 2023. Its solution, Sec-PaLM, combines threat intelligence (Mandiant) and security operations (Chronicle) with its infrastructure (Vertex AI), creating a robust, AI-driven security platform.
Final Thoughts: AI Can Be Your Cybersecurity Ally
Generative AI is changing the game in cybersecurity—creating both new threats and powerful defenses. Businesses that invest in AI-powered solutions today are better positioned to face the digital risks of tomorrow.
At Venturus, we have a team of experts ready to help your organization implement cutting-edge cybersecurity strategies using AI. Whether you're looking to improve efficiency, reduce risk, or strengthen your digital defenses, we’re here to help.
Talk to our specialists and discover how Venturus can support your business.