The 2025 State of AI Cybersecurity report from Darktrace discusses the shifting role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity, featuring insights from more than 1,500 security professionals globally. According to the report, 78% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are seeing impacts from AI-driven cyber threats. This represents a 5% increase from 2024. 

Although AI-fueled threats are impacting more CISOs, more than 60% of them feel sufficiently prepared to defend against such threats (nearly a 15% increase year-over-year). 

95% of cyber professionals think AI can boost the speed and efficiency of prevention, detection, response and recovery efforts against cyber threats. Still, the report emphasizes that knowledge deficiencies persist. Only 42% completely understand the AI in their organization’s security stack, with notable gaps in understanding between CISOs (60%), IT security administrators (14%), and IT security analysts/operators (10%). 

To shore up the skills shortage, many organizations intend to leverage AI, with 88% asserting the use of AI is essential for improving proactivity and freeing up time for security teams. 64% report plans to involve AI-driven solutions in organizational security stacks, while only 11% report plans to increase cyber staff in 2025. In terms of AI policies, 95% of respondents state their organization is discussing (50%) or implementing (45%) formal policies for secure AI usage.