Anticipating AI’s Impact on the Cyber Offense-Defense Balance

As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in cybersecurity, its influence on the offense-defense balance is growing—but in unpredictable ways. AI could strengthen defenders by automating patching, hardening networks, and identifying threats at scale, yet it could also empower attackers with faster, more sophisticated tools. This report explores how AI’s dual-use nature presents both risks and opportunities, urging policymakers and technologists to take proactive steps to tilt the balance toward defense. The future of cybersecurity may hinge not just on innovation, but on how responsibly and reliably that innovation is deployed.