Social engineering remains the #1 entry point for cybercriminals to breach organizations — and it’s evolving fast. Thanks to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), social engineering attacks are becoming more sophisticated, scalable, and harder to detect.
How AI Is Fueling Advanced Social Engineering
AI is helping attackers amplify their social engineering playbook in several critical ways:
- Personalized Phishing
AI analyzes public data (social media profiles, online presence, job roles) to craft highly personalized phishing emails, known as spear phishing, that are more convincing and harder to spot. - Local and Contextual Content
With tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini, attackers can generate emails that match the target’s local language, tone, or cultural context, increasing credibility. - Deepfake Threats
Cybercriminals now use AI-generated audio and video deepfakes to impersonate trusted executives or partners, pressuring employees to transfer funds, share sensitive data, or hand over access credentials.
The Next Evolution: Agentic AI
Starting in late 2024, we’ve seen the emergence of agentic AI — autonomous AI agents that can independently execute complex tasks without human input. This marks a paradigm shift for cybersecurity.
Here’s how agentic AI is transforming social engineering attacks:
- Self-Learning, Adaptive Threats
AI agents can learn from every interaction, refining phishing strategies based on which tactics work for different audiences or situations. - Automated Spear Phishing at Scale
Unlike prompt-based AI, agentic AI can autonomously collect target data, craft tailored messages, and launch phishing campaigns without manual oversight. - Dynamic, Real-Time Targeting
AI can adjust phishing tactics in real time, responding to a recipient’s behavior or external factors (like holidays or local events) to improve success rates. - Multi-Stage Attack Campaigns
Agentic AI can run multi-step operations, using information gathered from one attack stage to fuel the next, creating a chain of escalating threats. - Multi-Channel Attacks
Beyond email, these AI agents can integrate SMS, social media, phone calls, or deepfake videos to increase pressure on targets and improve chances of success.
Key Recommendations for Organizations
To protect against this next generation of social engineering attacks, organizations must level up their defenses — using both technology and human vigilance.
✅ Deploy AI-Powered Defenses
Adopt or build AI agents that can monitor your attack surface, detect unusual activities, analyze global threat feeds, spot insider threats through behavior patterns, and prioritize vulnerabilities.
✅ Enhance Security Awareness with AI
Move beyond static training. Use AI-driven security awareness tools that assign dynamic learning content based on user risk, generate real-time phishing simulations, and deliver bite-sized refreshers tied to emerging threats.
✅ Prepare Employees for the AI Threat
Foster a strong security culture where employees understand the real-world risks of social engineering. Equip them to spot suspicious communications, question unexpected requests, and confidently report concerns — without fear of blame.
Final Thought
As Gartner predicts, by 2028, a third of our interactions with AI will involve autonomous agents acting on their own goals. Cybercriminals won’t be far behind, using the same advancements to supercharge their attacks.
Now is the time to prepare. Organizations must deploy their own AI-powered defenses, elevate employee training, and instill a culture of shared cybersecurity responsibility.