Interpol's global chief information security officer says AI is evolving existing criminal tactics, urging companies to prioritize critical assets and address high levels of user trust in technology.
Key facts
- •Bjorn R. Watne described AI's impact on cybercrime as an evolution of existing techniques rather than a revolution.
- •AI tools are enabling scammers to improve translation and digital identities, making fraud more difficult to detect.
- •Interpol recommends that companies identify their most critical assets to focus their cybersecurity resources effectively.
- •Watne warned that agentic AI performing incorrect actions in physical domains could lead to real-world bodily harm.
- •Consumers often grant access to new technology with less caution than they apply to financial services.
Artificial intelligence is enhancing the speed and scale of existing cyber threats rather than revolutionizing them, according to Bjorn R. Watne, global chief information security officer at Interpol. Speaking at Tech Week Singapore, Watne noted that AI allows scam operators to target multiple victims simultaneously while making fraudulent interactions harder to distinguish from legitimate ones through improved translation and digital identities.
Strategic Defense for Businesses
Watne advises companies to move away from attempting to protect against every possible threat at once. Instead, businesses should identify their "crown jewels"—the assets most critical to their operations—and determine which adversaries are most likely to target them. By utilizing threat intelligence, companies can tailor their defenses based on whether they face opportunistic criminals or advanced persistent threat actors. He also highlighted a persistent disconnect between senior management and cybersecurity strategy. Despite cyber risk rising on corporate registers, Watne noted that cybersecurity has not yet fully integrated into the boardroom, with many industries failing to recognize that they essentially function as IT companies.
Risks of Agentic AI and User Trust
A primary concern for Interpol is the rise of agentic AI, which can take actions on a user's behalf. Watne warned that if these systems perform incorrect actions, particularly in physical domains like self-driving vehicles, the consequences could extend to human bodily harm. These risks are exacerbated by the high level of trust individuals place in technology compared to financial services. While people typically employ safeguards like PIN codes for banking, they often grant access to new apps and devices without similar caution. Watne emphasized that as AI systems become more capable of autonomous action, this high level of user trust warrants greater scrutiny.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by CNBC Technology.
