Report on the influence of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity
Bern, 12.12.2025 — The Federal Council has examined how artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing cybersecurity and whether the National Cyberstrategy (NCS) can keep pace with rapid developments in AI. In a report on the opportunities and risks of AI systems in cybersecurity, commissioned in response to postulate 23.3861 from Gerhard Andrey and approved on 12 December, the Federal Council concludes that while AI acts as a catalyst for existing trends in cybersecurity, it does not change the fundamentals. AI projects will now be identified more clearly in the NCS to ensure transparency and allow for more focused control.
Artificial intelligence is opening up countless new applications across business, government and society. At the same time, it is advancing so quickly that it has already achieved what experts did not expect to see for another five to ten years. This is particularly striking in cybersecurity.
Opportunities and risks of AI in cybersecurity
Responding to postulate 23.3861 from National Council member Gerhard Andrey, the Federal Council has set out how AI is influencing cybersecurity. The technology is being used both to defend systems and to attack them. On the attack side, AI enables phishing campaigns to be crafted in multiple languages and targeted at specific industries, countries or individuals with minimal effort. It can generate convincingly realistic deepfake videos and power adaptive attack techniques that evade traditional security measures. Both the volume and sophistication of attacks will continue to grow.
While AI does not fundamentally alter cybersecurity, it does accelerate existing trends. Most significantly, it lowers the barrier to launching cyberattacks – less technical knowledge is needed and attacks can be mounted more quickly. But AI also offers substantial defensive advantages. It can support overstretched security teams by enhancing traditional measures and enabling new defence strategies. For instance, AI can dramatically speed up threat detection and vulnerability identification, strengthening overall defences.
More visibility for AI developments in the NCS
As the Federal Council notes in its report, AI projects are already being implemented as part of the National Cyberstrategy (NCS). This provides a solid foundation for responding flexibly to current and emerging developments. To better account for AI's growing influence in cybersecurity, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will regularly and systematically gather and assess information on ongoing and planned projects. The NCS will also be expanded to include additional AI-specific projects, ensuring transparency and enabling more focused control.
The NCS Steering Committee's annual report will include a dedicated chapter on AI and cybersecurity developments. This will show how Switzerland is actively incorporating and assessing new technologies as it implements the National Cyberstrategy.