Cyber Chief Warns Iran Is Developing AI Capabilities for Cyberattacks

Yossi Karadi, head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, warned on Tuesday that Iran is developing artificial-intelligence capabilities for offensive cyber operations. Speaking at Cyber Week at Tel Aviv University on November 10, he said the threat could extend to other countries. He contrasted that effort with international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Karadi described a form of cyber attrition in which repeated attacks could accumulate into broad systemic damage. A country that cannot recover as quickly as attacks arrive could gradually be worn down, he said, even without a single decisive cyberattack. He also described an imbalance between attackers and defenders before AI capabilities are integrated into national defense. An attacker can select a single model, a target and the moment to act, while defenders must protect many organizations at the same time against attacks using different models, he said. On September 16, the directorate announced the launch of its podcast, “Without a Single Shot,” with Karadi appearing in its first episode. The official announcement described a discussion of cyberwar’s potential effects on infrastructure and everyday life, alongside national preparation, defense and resilience.