When AI Becomes the Attacker: Most Organizations Aren't Ready for AI Threats

Jan 14, 2026

Dave Chatterjee, an Adjunct Associate Professor and cybersecurity strategist, discusses how AI is reshaping cyber threats and the need for a proactive approach to cybersecurity. He introduces his Commitment-Preparedness-Discipline (CPD) framework and highlights three underestimated AI risks. Chatterjee emphasizes the importance of using AI defensively and outlines the rise of adaptive deepfakes, sharing practical steps individuals can take to enhance their security. He also predicts the emergence of roles like Chief AI Security Officer to combat these evolving threats.

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INSIGHT

Scale, Speed, And Surprise Redefine Attacks

AI increases attack precision, enabling perpetrators to target exact vulnerabilities and escalate across networks.
Dave Chatterjee warns scale, speed, and surprise make AI-enabled attacks far more damaging than past human-driven methods.

ADVICE

Match AI With AI And Human Oversight

Counter AI-enabled attacks with AI-powered detection, continuous adaptation, and integrated intelligence.
Use human oversight to verify critical alerts that automated systems flag or act upon.

ADVICE

Make Cybersecurity A Strategic Priority

Treat cybersecurity as a strategic business priority and build leadership buy-in, not an afterthought.
Create a CISO role or a CISO committee to drive governance when hiring a CISO isn't feasible.

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Dave Chatterjee, Adjunct Associate Professor at Duke University, explains how scale, speed, and surprise are reshaping cyber threats and why many organizations remain dangerously reactive. He shares his Commitment-Preparedness-Discipline (CPD) framework along with ways that leaders can move beyond checkbox compliance by treating cybersecurity as a strategic business priority.

Key Takeaways:

The three underestimated AI risks that leaders often overlook, and how AI must be used to defend against AI-driven cyber threats
Why deepfake attacks represent a systemic risk at both the individual and organizational levels
Practical steps individuals can take to reduce exposure to fraud, impersonation, and data loss
How better cybersecurity hygiene creates trust, resilience, and competitive advantage

Guest Bio: Dave Chatterjee, Ph.D., is a leading authority on cybersecurity strategy, governance, and AI security. As the creator of the Commitment-Preparedness-Discipline (CPD) framework, he helps organizations worldwide build resilient, high-performance security cultures. His recent work explores the convergence of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and business resilience, addressing challenges such as AI exploitation, deepfake manipulation, and the secure integration of intelligent systems.

Dr. Chatterjee is the author of "Cybersecurity Readiness: A Holistic and High-Performance Approach" and the cybercrime-themed novel "The DeepFake Conspiracy", which illustrates the emerging risks and ethical dilemmas at the intersection of AI and cyber defense. His thought leadership has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, Business Insider, California Management Review, Business Horizons, MIS Quarterly, and Journal of Management Information Systems.

As host of the acclaimed Cybersecurity Readiness Podcast Series, he has engaged leading practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in discussions on topics such as agentic AI, post-quantum readiness, and AI-driven threat detection. A trusted advisor to Fortune 500 firms and government agencies, Dr. Chatterjee delivers high-impact keynotes and moderates CXO panels worldwide, advancing dialogue on how to turn AI risk into organizational resilience.

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