AI as Tradecraft: How Threat Actors Are Operationalizing AI [Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast]

In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Greg Schlomer and Vlad H. to discuss new research on Jasper Sleet, a North Korean–aligned threat actor incorporating AI into active operations.

The conversation examines how AI is being integrated across the attack lifecycle — from highly tailored phishing lures and fabricated job applicant personas to accelerating malware development and refining operational workflows. Rather than treating AI as a novelty, Jasper Sleet is using it to increase speed, scale, and adaptability while reducing many of the friction points that once slowed campaigns.

They also explore what this shift means for defenders. As AI compresses iteration cycles and lowers barriers to entry, traditional attribution signals evolve, influence operations become more convincing, and defensive teams must tighten the loop between intelligence, detection, and response. This is less about experimentation and more about the operationalization of AI as part of modern tradecraft.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How AI is changing the speed at which cyber operations evolve

Why jailbreaking AI models is often trivial for motivated adversaries

The strategic implications of AI leveling the playing field between threat actors

Some questions we ask:

Is there resistance among experienced malware authors to adopting AI?

Are we seeing fully AI-written malware in the wild?

What stands out about Jasper Sleet’s use of AI?

Resources:

View Greg Schloemer on LinkedIn

View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

The BlueHat Podcast

Uncovering Hidden Risks

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider

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