AI is giving attackers a head start, Microsoft warns

Threat actors are using AI to find bugs, build malware and run intrusions faster than defenders can keep up. Microsoft’s 2026 Digital Defense Report, covering July 2025 to June 2026, describes a near-term period in which attackers collect the benefits of AI first and defenders have to move quickly to close the gap. “AI is changing the physics of cybersecurity,” the company said.