In the era of rapid digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most disruptive technologies across every conceivable industry. From healthcare and finance to smart cities and national defense, AI has dramatically reshaped the landscape of data processing, decision-making, and automation. However, as organizations and governments increasingly adopt AI, they must also confront an alarming reality: the rise of complex cybersecurity threats targeting and leveraging AI systems.

"Cybersecurity in Artificial Intelligence: Attacks, Defenses, and Real-World Applications" is a comprehensive academic and professional course book that serves as a foundational and advanced guide to understanding the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. This book is not merely a theoretical exploration—it is a hands-on, practical resource enriched with case studies, industry practices, emerging tools, and policy discussions that bridge the gap between AI development and cybersecurity preparedness.

AI, by its nature, is designed to learn, adapt, and make decisions based on data. However, this learning capability is also what makes AI systems vulnerable to manipulation, data poisoning, adversarial attacks, and systemic biases. While traditional cybersecurity mechanisms focus on securing data networks and IT infrastructure, AI systems introduce unique risks that require novel approaches, innovative frameworks, and intelligent countermeasures.

This book equips readers with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to understand and defend against the growing threats targeting AI systems. Whether you are a student, researcher, IT professional, ethical hacker, or corporate strategist, this book provides invaluable insights into building robust, ethical, and secure AI-driven systems that can withstand both current and future threats.

Purpose and Importance of the Book

Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are no longer separate domains. The growing integration of AI into critical infrastructure and consumer products has given rise to new categories of threats—ranging from adversarial machine learning and model inversion to AI-driven malware and autonomous threat actors. Simultaneously, AI is also transforming the cybersecurity industry by enabling proactive threat detection, predictive analytics, and adaptive security policies.

The purpose of this book is threefold: