Writing from an industry perspective, Microsoft’s security chief Vasu Jakkal discusses how AI is being harnessed to counter an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks. Vasu notes that the threat landscape in 2024 is “the most complex in history,” with the frequency of attacks skyrocketing (e.g. from 579 password attacks per second in 2021 to 7,000 per second in 2024). To combat this, defenders are deploying AI-driven tools that can process massive signal data and respond faster than human teams. For instance, Microsoft’s cloud systems analyze 78 trillion security signals daily and feed into Security Copilot, an AI assistant that helps analysts triage and investigate incidents at machine speed. Jakkal argues AI is a game-changer in automating threat detection, correlating anomalies, and even predicting attacks. Additionally, AI can help close the cybersecurity talent gap by handling routine tasks and augmenting less-experienced staff. The article acknowledges that while attackers are also using AI, the integration of AI into defense is boosting resilience. It concludes that a combination of human expertise and AI capabilities is needed to stay ahead of increasingly AI-enhanced threats.
