Business Models and Growth · Early signal
How is AI changing security at work? Follow a request to change bank details
More businesses use AI to spot suspicious activity. Employees still need a way to check who actually sent a request.
Content updated: 04/11/2026What is changing?
Some businesses use AI to spot unusual activity in their computer systems. Someone attempting fraud can also imitate a manager’s voice. An imitation of someone’s voice or image made with AI is called a .
How do we know?
In OECD figures, 5.3% of businesses used AI to protect their computer systems in 2025, more than twice the share in 2021. Separately, 15% of employees in an EU survey said they had encountered an AI-generated scam in the previous six months.
Who is affected, and how?
For someone paying invoices, the question is whether the person named on a request actually sent it. is when someone poses as a trusted contact to trick you into giving up information or taking action. A familiar logo does not establish who sent the message.
What can I do?
Walk through the last request to change a supplier’s bank details. Who called the supplier and where did they get the number? If that step is missing, agree who will call next time and where to record the answer.
A supplier appears to email, “Please send today’s payment to our new account.” The email includes a familiar logo and a phone number. The payments clerk puts the transfer on hold and calls the number on the existing contract.
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If the supplier confirms the change, the clerk records the call and asks for the usual second approval. If the supplier denies the request or cannot be reached, the clerk keeps the existing details and refers the request for review.
Evidence and limitations (2)
Businesses increasingly adopt AI for cybersecurity while individuals expand privacy protections ↗
In 2025, 5.3% of businesses used AI for IT security, more than twice the share in 2021.
Countries covered by the OECD figures · Enterprises · The release does not give a business count.
Comparison of annual statistics on business use of technology.
Source published: 2026-10-26 · Data period: 2021-01-01 — 2025-12-31 · Observed findingThree in four EU employees faced cyber threats at work, new Eurobarometer finds ↗
15% of employees reported encountering an AI-generated scam at work.
European Union · Workplaces · 25,747 respondents across all 27 EU countries.
Online survey asking about experiences in the preceding six months.
Source published: 2026-09-30 · Data period: 2026-04-27 — 2026-05-08 · Observed findingUncertainties: The survey records what employees recall encountering. It does not count verified attacks or measure how their frequency changed over time.
Türkiye interpretation (inference): These results do not give an estimate for employees in Türkiye.
Last evidence check: 04/11/2026