The European Commission presented an Action Plan on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence in Strasbourg on July 7, 2026, with Executive Vice-President Virkkunen delivering the remarks to outline both the protective potential and offensive risks that advanced AI models carry.
The Commission said advanced AI models are capable of helping organizations prepare for and defend against cyber threats. At the same time, those same tools can be turned against targets, and the Commission noted that advanced AI is capable of generating cyber exploits that could be used offensively.
Virkkunen framed the dual nature of the technology directly. "Advanced AI models create many possibilities. They can help us to prepare and protect but they can also be used against us," the Executive Vice-President said.
The action plan addresses both dimensions, according to the Commission, treating AI as a resource for defenders while acknowledging that adversaries can deploy the same capabilities. The presentation in Strasbourg marked the formal introduction of the plan by Commission leadership.