The seventh edition of the Cyber Power Symposium, organized virtually by Hybrid CoE on 23 April 2025, explored the intersection of cyber threats, artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid threats, and their influence in the cognitive domain under the title Cyber, AI & hybrid threats: New ambitions, old challenges in a polarized future.
Bringing together security and defence experts and academics from EU and NATO states, as well as Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Liechtenstein, the symposium assessed the challenges posed by AI-enabled cyber threats and their potential to undermine democratic resilience. Speakers underlined how hybrid threats, including cognitive operations, are increasingly synchronized to disrupt perceptions and decision-making in open societies.
Participants noted that while international coalitions continue to shape cyber accountability, shifting geopolitical dynamics are beginning to test their cohesion. The discussion highlighted the dual role of AI โ as both a defensive tool and a threat multiplier โ and emphasized the need for scalable detection technologies and coordinated defence systems. Without joint frameworks, national-level responses risk being outpaced by rapidly evolving threats.
The symposium also stressed the importance of cooperation with Ukraine in developing collective AI-driven cyber defences. Human error remains the dominant factor in cybersecurity breaches, reinforcing the need for a lifelong digital security culture across all sectors of society.
