The European Central Bank is pressing euro zone bank chief executives to present concrete action plans to counter cyber threats enabled by artificial intelligence.
The regulator has flagged that new AI models can rapidly identify software vulnerabilities and automate exploits, creating a heightened risk to the stability of the financial system.
This directive follows the ECB’s earlier order for banks to develop comprehensive strategies to address AI-enabled cyber risks within a four-month window.
The central bank has cited the potential for these threats to undermine confidence in payment continuity and broader financial stability.
The focus on AI specifically marks an escalation in the regulatory posture, moving beyond general cybersecurity hygiene to address the specific capabilities of machine learning tools in offensive cyber operations.
The warning comes as financial institutions face increasing pressure to secure their digital infrastructure against increasingly automated attacks.