The rise of AI-powered hacking tools is raising serious concerns in Europe regarding cybersecurity. Recent research from Stanford University indicates that AI bots may soon surpass human capabilities in identifying and exploiting system vulnerabilities, posing a significant threat to digital infrastructure. This development underscores the urgency for enhanced cybersecurity measures. The Stanford study involved an AI hacking bot named Artemis, pitted against ten professional ethical hackers, or pentesters, on the university’s engineering network. Artemis was designed to scan for bugs and vulnerabilities. The bot outperformed nine out of ten human hackers, identifying flaws more quickly and at a lower cost, with an hourly operational cost of $60 compared to the $2,000-$2,500 daily fee of a human pentester. This advance impacts businesses and individuals across the European Union, potentially increasing the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. The implications include the need for increased investment in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and the implementation of more robust data protection protocols to safeguard against automated hacking attempts. This also poses additional challenges for GDPR compliance. Further research is needed to fully understand the capabilities and limitations of AI-powered hacking tools. This development emphasizes the importance of digital sovereignty and the need for Europe to develop its own cybersecurity capabilities, independent of external actors.

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Publication: Xataka

Published: December 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM UTC

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