NCSC Warns About Growing AI Threats

Artificial intelligence is transforming everything from healthcare and education to customer service and manufacturing. However, while businesses and public services are finding new ways to benefit from AI, cyber criminals are also beginning to exploit the technology in increasingly sophisticated ways.

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre, better known as the NCSC, has repeatedly warned that artificial intelligence will change the cyber threat landscape over the next few years. Rather than replacing traditional hacking methods, AI is expected to make many existing attacks faster, cheaper and more convincing.

For businesses across Newcastle and the wider North East, understanding these risks is becoming just as important as embracing AI itself. As the region continues attracting investment through the Government's North East AI Growth Zone and expanding its digital economy, cyber resilience is becoming a critical part of future growth.

AI is making cyber attacks more convincing.

According to the National Cyber Security Centre, generative AI is lowering the barrier to entry for cyber criminals by helping them produce more believable phishing emails, fake websites and convincing online scams.

Previously, many phishing emails were easy to recognise because of poor spelling or awkward language. Today's AI tools can generate fluent, personalised messages that closely resemble genuine communications from banks, employers or government organisations.

The NCSC has warned that this is likely to increase both the volume and effectiveness of phishing attacks over the next two years, particularly against organisations with weaker cyber security practices.

While AI does not suddenly give criminals new hacking capabilities, it allows them to automate many of the tasks that once required significant time and expertise.

Newcastle's digital economy must remain prepared.

The North East is becoming one of the UK's fastest growing technology regions.

Newcastle University continues to lead internationally recognised research in cyber security, artificial intelligence and data science, while the National Innovation Centre for Data supports businesses looking to adopt AI responsibly.

At the same time, the Government's North East AI Growth Zone is expected to attract further investment into digital industries, strengthen AI infrastructure and support thousands of young people developing future technology skills.

As more businesses across Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and Northumberland introduce AI into daily operations, cyber security will become an increasingly important part of business planning rather than simply an IT issue.

Cyber crime remains a major threat.

The latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 highlights the scale of the challenge facing UK organisations.

Around 43 percent of UK businesses and 30 percent of charities reported experiencing a cyber security breach or attack during the previous 12 months. For medium sized businesses the figure rises to 70 percent, while 74 percent of large businesses reported cyber incidents.

Phishing remains by far the most common method used by criminals. Around 85 percent of businesses and charities experiencing attacks identified phishing emails as the primary threat.

These figures underline why organisations are increasingly investing in AI powered cyber security systems capable of detecting suspicious activity before it develops into a serious incident.

AI is becoming part of the solution.

Although cyber criminals are adopting artificial intelligence, security professionals are doing exactly the same.

Modern AI security platforms continuously monitor network activity, user behaviour and system performance, allowing unusual activity to be identified almost instantly.

Rather than relying solely on databases of known viruses, AI systems can recognise abnormal behaviour, detect ransomware encryption in its early stages and automatically isolate compromised devices before attacks spread across entire networks.

Banks have already been using similar AI technologies for years to identify unusual spending patterns and prevent fraudulent transactions.

Businesses throughout the North East are increasingly adopting these same principles to strengthen their own digital defences.

The NCSC says people remain the strongest defence.

One of the key messages from the National Cyber Security Centre is that technology alone cannot eliminate cyber crime.

Human awareness continues to play a vital role.

The organisation encourages businesses to provide regular cyber awareness training, enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible, keep software fully updated and ensure staff know how to identify suspicious emails and fraudulent links.

The NCSC also recommends that organisations develop clear incident response plans, allowing employees to react quickly if an attack does occur.

Artificial intelligence may strengthen cyber security, but informed staff remain one of the most effective safeguards available.

Deepfakes and AI impersonation are growing concerns.

Another emerging challenge highlighted by cyber security experts is the rise of AI generated deepfakes.

Voice cloning technology can now imitate individuals with remarkable accuracy using only short audio samples. Criminals are beginning to exploit this capability to impersonate company executives, family members and trusted colleagues in attempts to authorise fraudulent payments or obtain sensitive information.

Although these attacks remain relatively uncommon, experts expect them to become more widespread as AI tools become increasingly accessible.

Businesses are therefore being encouraged to introduce additional identity verification procedures before approving financial transactions or sharing confidential information.

Looking ahead.

Artificial intelligence is changing cyber security on both sides of the battle. While criminals are using AI to create more convincing scams and automate attacks, security professionals are deploying the same technology to detect threats faster and protect organisations more effectively.

For Newcastle and the wider North East, where digital innovation continues gathering momentum, the challenge is not whether AI should be embraced, but how it can be adopted responsibly.

The National Cyber Security Centre's advice remains consistent. Combine AI powered protection with skilled employees, strong cyber hygiene and regular training, and organisations will be far better prepared for the evolving threats of the digital age.

Join the discussion.

Do you think AI will ultimately strengthen cyber security or make cyber crime harder to stop?