Artificial Intelligence and Security Challenges in the Digital Economy

Abstract

The present study examines the dual role of artificial intelligence (AI) as both a catalyst for innovation and a source of emerging security threats in the digital economy. The research is grounded in the growing tension between the rapid adoption of AI technologies by economic actors and the evolving sophistication of AI-enabled cyberattacks. The methodology combines a systematic analysis of secondary data from institutional reports (IBM, World Economic Forum, Deloitte) with a comparative assessment of regulatory frameworks, notably the EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689). The findings indicate that the global average cost of a data breach reached USD 4.88 million in 2024, while organizations deploying AI-based security solutions reduced these costs by an average of USD 2.2 million. Nearly 47% of organizations identify generative AI-powered adversarial advances as their primary security concern, and the cybersecurity workforce deficit has widened by 8% since 2024. The study concludes that effective integration of AI in cybersecurity strategies, combined with coherent regulatory compliance, represents a necessary condition for sustainable digital economic growth. CZU: 004.8+004.056.53; JEL: L86, O33, K24, G28