AI has revolutionized many industries—and unfortunately, cybercrime is one of them. A new wave of phishing scams is being powered by generative AI and deepfake tools. These sophisticated attacks use AI to write flawless, personalized phishing emails and even generate fake voice messages or videos. In 2025 alone, AI-enhanced phishing attempts have increased by 47%, targeting individuals and companies alike with highly convincing social engineering tactics.

What’s especially dangerous is the realism. Emails mimic internal communications, use a target’s real name, and include context that feels authentic. Meanwhile, deepfake audio allows scammers to impersonate CEOs or IT personnel in urgent voice calls—pressuring employees to transfer funds or provide login credentials. These scams bypass traditional phishing detection systems because they don’t rely on bad grammar or suspicious links.

The defense? Use what the attackers use: AI-enhanced email filtering, voice authentication systems, and anomaly detection tools that look beyond superficial message content. Employees should also be trained to recognize red flags, question unusual requests—even from senior staff—and verify them through secure, secondary channels. In the AI era, trust must be earned and verified—not assumed.