Introduction
As artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize industries and redefine the way we communicate, it has also opened up new opportunities for cybercriminals. Tools like ChatGPT, while designed to assist with writing, coding, and research, are increasingly being exploited by bad actors to automate scams, create convincing phishing content, and even generate malicious code.
Experts warn that generative AI tools are becoming the newest weapon in the cybercriminal arsenal — scalable, efficient, and alarmingly effective.
AI in the Wrong Hands
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is among several large language models (LLMs) now widely available to the public. These models are built to assist users by generating natural-sounding text, translating languages, summarizing information, and more. However, their open-ended capabilities also mean they can be manipulated for illicit purposes.
According to recent cybersecurity reports from Check Point, Recorded Future, and Microsoft’s Digital Threat Analysis Center, cybercriminals are now using generative AI to:
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Write convincing phishing emails in multiple languages with few or no grammatical errors — increasing their chances of deceiving victims.
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Draft malware and ransomware code, or assist in debugging malicious software.
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Create fake news, disinformation, and deepfake content to manipulate public opinion or sow discord.
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Automate scam scripts for social engineering, fraud, and identity theft.
“We’ve seen a sharp increase in phishing campaigns that appear to be generated or assisted by AI tools,” says Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy at Microsoft. “The content is polished, and the tone is more persuasive than traditional spam — it’s clear AI is playing a role.”
Dark Web Adoption of Generative AI
Dark web marketplaces and forums have become hubs for AI exploitation. Cybersecurity firm SlashNext recently uncovered discussions in hacker forums where users share techniques to bypass safety filters on AI tools and request help using open-source alternatives like LLaMA, Claude, and open-weight GPT models.
These platforms also host tutorials on how to use AI to:
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Clone voices for vishing (voice phishing)
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Develop keyloggers and spyware
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Produce fake resumes and documents for job fraud
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Impersonate customer service agents or technical support personnel
Many of these conversations are occurring on Telegram channels and encrypted forums where AI-generated tools are being marketed as “malware-as-a-service” (MaaS) offerings.
Bypassing Safety Measures
While OpenAI and other developers have implemented safety systems and usage policies to prevent misuse, cybercriminals often find ways around them. This includes:
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Prompt engineering: Crafting indirect or disguised inputs that avoid detection by safety filters (e.g., asking the AI to write code “for educational purposes”).
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Model jailbreaking: Exploiting loopholes in the model’s instruction set to force unsafe outputs.
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Use of open-source models: Turning to unmoderated LLMs without any safety features or ethical constraints.
AI researcher Daniel Wehr from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) warns, “Open-source models are incredibly powerful, but without guardrails, they become fertile ground for malicious applications. Unlike OpenAI or Google, these models have no content moderation.”
Industry and Government Response
In response to the emerging threat, tech companies and governments have started implementing countermeasures:
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OpenAI has partnered with cybersecurity firms to detect AI-generated phishing and has introduced watermarking techniques to trace content origins.
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Google DeepMind is developing robust AI detectors capable of identifying synthetic content.
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The EU’s AI Act and the U.S. Executive Order on Safe AI Use include provisions requiring transparency and risk assessments for generative models.
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Interpol and Europol have launched international task forces to monitor AI misuse on the dark web.
Still, enforcement remains challenging, especially as cybercriminals shift to decentralized platforms and encrypted channels.
The Road Ahead
The dual-use nature of generative AI — where tools can serve both productive and malicious ends — underscores the need for a balanced approach. While clamping down on misuse, it’s equally vital to preserve innovation and access for legitimate users.
Cybersecurity experts advocate for:
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Ongoing investment in AI-content detection
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Public education on identifying AI-generated fraud
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Enhanced collaboration between AI developers and law enforcement
“The best defense is awareness,” says Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance. “AI isn’t going away — we must learn to coexist with it safely and responsibly.”
Conclusion
As generative AI continues to evolve, so too will the tactics of those who seek to exploit it. While AI tools like ChatGPT offer unprecedented benefits, their misuse by cybercriminals presents a real and growing threat. Combating this challenge requires vigilance, innovation, and global cooperation — a digital arms race that has only just begun.
Sources:
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Check Point Research, 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report
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Microsoft Digital Threat Analysis Center, Q2 2025 Brief
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Recorded Future, “The Dark Side of AI” Report
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OpenAI Safety Blog
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Interviews with cybersecurity experts (Microsoft, MIT CSAIL, National Cybersecurity Alliance)