Cyber attacks powered by artificial intelligence have experienced a dramatic increase of 89% in the past year, as outlined in CrowdStrike's 2026 Global Threat Report. This surge marks a significant transformation in the online threat landscape, with advancements in AI technology driving a more aggressive environment for cyber threats.
The report highlights that AI-assisted cybercriminals have accelerated their operational speed by 65% between 2024 and 2025. The average breakout time for these attacks decreased to just 29 minutes, with some incidents reported at a record 27 seconds. Notably, a shocking 90 AI companies experienced breaches, compromising sensitive information and cryptocurrency.
Nation-state actors have also harnessed AI capabilities, with the Russian group FANCY BEAR using large language models for automated espionage. Chinese-affiliated hackers have seen a 38% increase in cyber activity, particularly targeting the logistics sector, which faced an 85% rise in attacks. North Korea's regime has seen a staggering 120% increase in cybercrime, with the hacking group FAMOUS CHOLLIMA orchestrating the largest recorded cryptocurrency theft, totaling $1.46 billion.