According to the chief executive officer (CEO), Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to the industrialisation of cybercrime, with organised groups increasingly deploying automated attacks at scale. He noted that cyberattacks carried out between 2024 and 2025 have shown a marked increase in AI adoption and automation.
According to him, organised cybercrime gangs now operate with structured human resource systems that handle recruitment, promotions and compensation, reflecting a professionalised ecosystem. He also said state-backed actors are leveraging criminal infrastructure to advance geopolitical objectives.
Citing assessments by global think tanks, he said nearly 80 per cent of cyberattacks are now AI-driven.
The official added that AI is being misused even in cases of so-called “digital arrests”, where deepfake technology is used to display the face of a well-known police officer to convince victims that they are interacting with a legitimate authority.
He further highlighted the emergence of a “triple extortion” model, in which attackers deploy ransomware to encrypt data and then threaten to leak sensitive information unless payment demands are met.
