In 2025, the introduction of agentic AI models will change how artificial intelligence operates, evolving from simple assistants to independent problem solvers. This shift, highlighted in a new report by Malwarebytes, emphasizes that advanced AI could disrupt cybersecurity, pushing teams to rethink their defense strategies. Currently, AI’s impact on malware remains limited, with threats only seeing slight improvements. However, the rise of agentic AI could allow cybercriminals to launch more sophisticated and faster attacks. At the same time, these AI agents could serve as crucial tools for security teams, enabling them to automate tasks and enhance defenses against evolving threats. Organizations must adapt by incorporating advanced AI to protect against potential new risks.
The Rise of Agentic AI: A New Era in Cybersecurity
In 2025, the landscape of artificial intelligence is set to change dramatically with the arrival of agentic AI models. This shift will transform AI from useful assistants into powerful peers capable of solving problems on their own. According to recent research from Malwarebytes, this evolution will force security teams to rethink their defense strategies entirely.
The Malwarebytes 2025 State of Malware report highlights that AI agents, like OpenAI’s “Operator,” have the potential to cause significant disruptions in cybersecurity, much like what was anticipated following the release of ChatGPT in 2022. The research points to leading firms such as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind, which claim that artificial general intelligence—the next step beyond agentic AI—is just a few years away.
Despite the benefits, the current impact of AI on the malware landscape has been limited. A report from OpenAI found that while threat actors have tried to use ChatGPT for nefarious tasks, the AI model offers only basic capabilities for malicious cybersecurity tasks. However, as agentic AI takes hold, the rules of the game may change entirely.
The Threatdown report suggests that agentic AI will narrow the skill gap for cybercriminals, enabling them to launch sophisticated attacks more quickly and at a larger scale. Ransomware gangs could potentially target multiple victims simultaneously or use AI to identify and exploit weaknesses in systems. However, there is a silver lining: these same AI agents could also serve as powerful tools for cybersecurity teams. By automating tasks and monitoring networks, AI could help organizations respond faster to threats.
Malwarebytes recommends that companies enhance their threat detection and defense strategies by integrating AI. With the evolving threat landscape, security teams will need to adapt and make the most of AI’s capabilities to protect their systems.
The emergence of agentic AI raises important discussions not just in cybersecurity, but in various sectors. While there are concerns about AI reliability and emotional intelligence, studies show that many IT executives recognize the significant value agentic AI can bring to their operations.
In conclusion, as we approach 2025, businesses must prepare for a world where AI not only assists but actively participates in both offense and defense in the cybersecurity realm.
Tags: Agentic AI, Cybersecurity, Malwarebytes, Artificial Intelligence, Threat Detection, Ransomware.
What is agentic AI in cybersecurity?
Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence that can make decisions and take actions on its own. In cybersecurity, it’s used to identify threats, respond to attacks, and protect systems without human intervention.
How might agentic AI change cybersecurity by 2025?
By 2025, agentic AI could make cybersecurity faster and more effective. It can learn from past attacks, predict new threats, and automatically defend against them, helping to keep data safer.
What are the benefits of using agentic AI in cybersecurity?
Some benefits include:
– Faster threat detection
– Reduced response time during attacks
– Continuous learning from new threats
– Less reliance on human experts
Could there be risks with agentic AI in cybersecurity?
Yes, there are some risks. If not properly controlled, agentic AI could make mistakes, misidentify threats, or be exploited by hackers. It’s important to set strong guidelines and oversight.
Will humans still be needed in cybersecurity if we use agentic AI?
Definitely! Humans will still play a vital role in cybersecurity. While agentic AI can handle many tasks, human insight is important for strategy, ethics, and addressing complex issues that AI may not fully understand.
