AI Is Helping Hackers Move Faster Than Old-School Security Tools Can Keep Up

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz has warned that artificial intelligence is giving cybercriminals a significant edge, allowing them to identify and exploit vulnerabilities much faster than before. According to Kurtz, this speed is exposing security gaps even at large organisations that invest heavily in cybersecurity, suggesting that spending alone is no guarantee of protection.

Kurtz argues that many businesses still rely on legacy security tools that were not designed to handle the speed and scale of AI-powered attacks. As threat actors use AI to automate reconnaissance and exploitation, traditional, slower-moving defences risk falling behind, leaving organisations exposed even when they believe they are well protected.

While the comments come from a cybersecurity vendor with a commercial interest in promoting modern platforms, they reflect a broader industry trend: attackers are increasingly using automation and AI to accelerate traditional hacking techniques. For small and medium businesses, this reinforces the need to regularly reassess whether existing security tools and practices are keeping pace with evolving threats.