AI vs. AI warfare will accelerate the cybersecurity arms race
· Posted on: January 28th 2026 · read
Insight written by Ben Hobby, Principal, Brian Nichols, Principal, Bernard Regan, Principal and Christopher J. Tait, Principal From Baker Tilly US
AI is transforming the way organizations and nations operate, but it’s also fundamentally changing the rules of the cybersecurity battlefield. While governments and organizations leverage AI for faster insights, improved decision-making and operational efficiency, attackers — including state-sponsored groups — are using the same engines to probe, manipulate and exploit systems at unprecedented speed.
AI is transforming the way organizations and nations operate, but it’s also fundamentally changing the rules of the cybersecurity battlefield. While governments and organizations leverage AI for faster insights, improved decision-making and operational efficiency, attackers — including state-sponsored groups — are using the same engines to probe, manipulate and exploit systems at unprecedented speed.
Clever actors can circumvent safeguards, exploit confidential data and automate attacks far faster than traditional human-led methods. In this interconnected environment, AI allows adversaries to operate across borders (often faster than defenders can react), amplifying the potential impact on global markets, supply chains and geopolitical stability. The dual-use nature of AI creates a delicate balance. Organizations and governments want to deploy it for legitimate, productive purposes, but every advancement can also be weaponized.
Failure to recognize this reality risks being outpaced by attackers who can automate reconnaissance, adapt strategies and launch sophisticated campaigns across industries and nations. The takeaway for 2026 is clear: AI doesn’t just enhance defenses — it also enhances threats on a global scale. Nations, organizations and security teams must treat AI as both an ally and a potential adversary, developing strategies that account for attacker use, cross-border risks and rapidly evolving AI-enabled attack techniques.
Those who understand the rules of this new AI battlefield — and prepare accordingly — will be better positioned to defend themselves in a world where AI-powered offense and defense are locked in an escalating, international cyber arms race.
The information provided here is of a general nature and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any individual or entity. In specific circumstances, the services of a professional should be sought. © 2025 Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP.
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