Attackers aren't just using AI to steal data; they're using it to fight back while you investigate them in real time. And once an adversary is inside, why would they ever want to leave? That's the unsettling reality Tom Kellermann, VP of AI Security and Threat Research at TrendAI, lays out in this episode.
And the numbers prove it. According to a 2026 TrendAI survey of 46 financial-sector CISOs, more than 60% of respondents experienced counter-incident response, where adversaries actively disrupt live investigations. In addition, nearly 90% of these leaders reported more AI-enabled attacks year over year.
Tom joins Johnny Hand and Dustin Childs to explain why the threats that hit the banks first tend to hit everyone else next, and what defenders can do about it.
You'll learn:
Why ungoverned AI should be treated as a command-and-control (C2) channel, and how attackers use it for reconnaissance, lateral movement, and persistence
How agentic attacks work end-to-end, from jailbreaking LLMs through API attacks to dynamically spinning up C2s in minutes
What tactics are used most for bank crime, from the rise of reverse business email compromise (RBEC), deepfake "employee digital twins," and the theft of non-public market information for digital front-running
How a strategic leadership alignment can improve AI defense
Why stick around:
Tom lays out how defenders can turn AI against the attackers, and why a CISO's independent voice has never mattered more.
Episode resources:
Modern Bank Heists 2026 report
Tom Kellermann on LinkedIn
Dustin Childs on LinkedIn
Johnny Hand on LinkedIn
TrendAI on LinkedIn
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