Enhancing Cybersecurity through Artificial Intelligence: Techniques, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Abstract

This study investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving cybersecurity, addressing a vital issue as digital threats become more complex and faster, challenging existing defenses. The limitations of traditional cybersecurity measures, which frequently fail to keep up with sophisticated threats, have a growing impact on organizations, governments, and individuals. This Integrative Literature Review (ILR) aimed to investigate how AI-driven technologies can improve cybersecurity by enabling better threat detection, prediction, and response while simultaneously addressing critical ethical considerations. Guided by the Cybersecurity Defense-in-Depth Theory and the Artificial Intelligence Theory of Pattern Recognition, the study combined a vast corpus of research on AI applications, concentrating on AI's operational capabilities and ethical implications. The ILR technique enabled a structured examination of empirical and theoretical literature on AI in cybersecurity, including AI-enhanced threat detection, predictive vulnerability assessment, and insider threat analysis using behavioral insights. The findings show that, while AI considerably improves operational efficiency, concerns about privacy, transparency, and potential biases highlight the importance of appropriate implementation frameworks that combine AI benefits with human experience. The findings highlight how responsible AI deployment, incorporating privacy safeguards, bias reduction, and explainable AI procedures, may encourage confidence and strengthen cybersecurity defenses. The study's findings highlight AI's potential to improve cybersecurity by providing enterprises with responsive and adaptable defenses, but equal access to these technologies remains critical. The report suggests additional research into ethical AI frameworks and accessible AI-driven solutions, particularly for smaller entities, to ensure that AI breakthroughs benefit a wide range of enterprises by improving their digital resilience.