Weaponizing Artificial Intelligence: How AI reshapes the world of organized crime

This study, entitled "Weaponizing Artificial Intelligence: How AI Reshapes the World of Organized Crime”, addresses issues related to sophisticated crimes that are committed, automated or enhanced using artificial intelligence tools. The publication examines real cases and analyses their impact on society. The main points addressed are:

1. AI technologies, especially generative AI and large language models, are transforming organized crime by lowering technical barriers and enabling scalable, automated illicit activities.

2. Criminal uses of AI include enhanced cyberattacks (polymorphic malware, ransomware, phishing), synthetic identity fraud (deepfakes, forged documents), bypassing financial controls, money laundering and to optimize illicit trafficking routes, among others.
3. Online exploitation has surged, with AI generating child sexual abuse material (CSEA), enabling blackmail, and recruiting minors.
4. Financial fraud is escalating, with deepfake-based scams, crypto laundering, and stock manipulation driven by AI-generated disinformation.
5. Organized crime groups and cartels now deploy AI-controlled drones, semi-submersibles, and autonomous weapons, merging military-grade tech with illicit trade.
6. These developments industrialize crime, with “Crime-as-a-Service” platforms and dark LLMs (e.g., WormGPT, FraudGPT) offering turnkey tools to non-experts.
7. AI is also exploited to manipulate democratic processes through disinformation, voice cloning, and large-scale political interference.
8. Responses require stronger investigative capacity, forensic tools for AI content, international cooperation, and high-level training of law enforcement.
9. Legal frameworks are catching up, with the EU AI Act, national initiatives, and the EL PACCTO’s proposed Regional Framework Law on AI and crime.
10. AI both amplifies existing crimes and invents new ones, demanding urgent public-private cooperation, regulation, and ethical safeguards.