The use of Artificial Intelligence is rapidly increasing in significance amid cyberattacks targeting companies and government agencies. According to Sinan Selen, President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, AI is “virtually a booster concerning the threat level,” he stated at the presentation of the 2026 Economic Protection Study in Berlin on Wednesday. Selen noted that cyberattacks are increasing both in volume and sophistication, which makes them increasingly complex and difficult to detect. He warned that we are dealing with continuous, adaptive attacks that will present a genuine challenge in the future.
Speaking about the growing quality of these attacks, Selen specifically referenced an incident originating from China that was “performed entirely using AI generation.” While calling this “remarkable,” he stressed that this capability is not exclusive to China, adding that these tools are now freely available, requiring future preparedness. Furthermore, he highlighted significant developments in social engineering. Selen explained that phishing attacks were not as sophisticated in the early stages, but AI is dramatically changing this. These attacks are now highly precise, functioning as “tailored operations” with fewer errors. He expressed concern that this area is only just beginning its development phase.
Meanwhile, Ralf Wintergerst, President of Bitkom, pointed out a differing trend in the market: while the number of ransomware attacks has noticeably decreased, deepfakes and robocalls are on the rise. Wintergerst described the current period as a “transition phase” regarding defense measures, a situation also applicable to cases involving autonomous AI attack models.
He believes companies are currently still in the process of testing AI applications. Consequently, defense against AI-powered assaults is only in its infancy. Wintergerst emphasized that the economy must adapt at an incredible pace, requiring security departments to reorient themselves quickly. This rapid shift, he concluded, necessitates the creation of new solutions and offerings within the German market, specifically requiring institutes or companies capable of reliably auditing corporate software.
