Artificial Intelligence and Cybercrime: New Challenges and Prospects for Legal Regulation

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing the methods and scale of cybercrime, and also poses significant challenges for legal regulation. This article highlights the fundamental aspects of the use of AI to commit cyberattacks (automated hacking tools, deep fakes, intellectual fraud, etc.) and considers ways to counter them by law enforcement agencies. The legal aspects related to the extended autonomy of AI systems are examined, leading to new liability issues, problems of assessing deep fakes evidence and the need for international cooperation in cybersecurity field. The aim of the study is to develop a holistic view of the threats posed by AI tools in the context of cybercrime and to formulate recommendations for improving national and transnational legislation. The article proposes specific mechanisms for ensuring the reliability of digital evidence, highlights the current practice of criminal prosecution in Ukraine and abroad, and also provides proposals for the unification of procedures for forensic analysis of materials obtained or modified with the help of AI. The results show that effective legal counteraction to AI-based cybercrime requires the simultaneous development of technical tools, enhanced protection of human rights, and international harmonization of legal norms. Particular attention is paid to modernization of training programs for legal professionals and the involvement of cybersecurity experts to ensure faster response to emerging threats.