Dell Security Chief Says AI Is Lowering Barriers to Cyberattacks

Dell Technologies security chief John Scimone warned on Oct. 20 that artificial intelligence is lowering the cost and skill barriers to sophisticated cyberattacks, putting those capabilities within reach of less sophisticated attackers.

Speaking at Dell’s New York symposium, Scimone said the distinction among hacktivists, criminal groups and nation-states still exists. The falling barriers, he said, are changing what attackers with less expertise can attempt. He argued that security teams will need AI to counter threats enabled by AI.

A review of 832 accounts banned for malicious cyber activity between March 2025 and March 2026 found that 560 had used AI to write malware. Of the 832 accounts, 54 had used AI to help move through compromised networks. The review covered accounts with enough detail to assess the techniques used.

Dell was using Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview to find and fix vulnerabilities in its products and newly developed code as of June 5. At that time, the company was also applying advanced AI models to its internal systems and networks.