Issue Autonomous cyber warfare would remove humans from both attack and defence

Summary

Deloitte describes a move toward autonomous cyber warfare, in which AI fights AI with fully automated attack and defence systems operating at machine speed and without human intervention. It calls this a paradigm shift in cybersecurity rather than an incremental change. Possible attack capabilities include swarm attacks that overwhelm defences through coordinated actions adapting in real time. Adaptive persistent threats could learn from each defensive action to find weaknesses and keep adjusting their tactics. The report also cites geopolitical risks such as manipulating public opinion with altered or fabricated media, and economic risks as stock markets rely more on AI, with some experts suggesting the next financial crisis could be driven by AI. It argues that fighting such threats requires AI-powered defences able to act at machine speed, built on adaptable architectures prepared today.