[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":434},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header":3,"footer":32,"footer-cities":56,"content-\u002Fnews\u002Fcybercriminals-struggling-to-adopt-ai-in-their-work-research-suggests":237},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":10,"extension":13,"links":14,"meta":26,"navigation":27,"path":28,"seo":29,"stem":30,"__hash__":31},"header\u002Fheader.md","Central Valley AI",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":9},"minimark",[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":12},"",2,[],"md",[15,20],{"label":16,"to":17,"icon":19},"News",{"path":18},"\u002Fnews\u002F","mdi-newspaper-variant-outline",{"label":21,"to":22,"icon":25},"Contact",{"path":23,"hash":24},"\u002F","#contact","mdi-email-outline",{},true,"\u002Fheader",{"title":5,"description":10},"header","CcnlvU-MIELm1QjRt6-8EIWzffq9TShbzfGuB7P8caE",{"id":33,"title":34,"body":35,"copyright":39,"description":10,"developedBy":40,"extension":13,"links":46,"meta":51,"navigation":27,"path":52,"seo":53,"stem":54,"__hash__":55},"footer\u002Ffooter.md","Footer",{"type":7,"value":36,"toc":37},[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":38},[],"© {year} All rights reserved.",{"label":41,"link":42},"Developed by",{"label":43,"to":44,"target":45},"Kaweah Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech","_blank",[47,48],{"label":16,"to":18},{"label":49,"to":50},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{},"\u002Ffooter",{"description":10},"footer","hsL9eJ4YEacLAdbs9C023GtZ9cLz07zVbmRn545fjvk",[57,87,125,156,183,210],{"id":58,"title":59,"body":60,"county":79,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":80,"meta":81,"navigation":27,"path":82,"seo":83,"stem":84,"tag":85,"__hash__":86},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield.md","Bakersfield",{"type":7,"value":61,"toc":76},[62,67],[63,64,66],"h2",{"id":65},"ai-in-bakersfield","AI in Bakersfield",[68,69,70,71,75],"p",{},"Bakersfield's AI conversation sits at the intersection of municipal government, the ",[72,73,74],"strong",{},"California State University Bakersfield"," community, and the energy and ag operators that drive Kern County's economy. The city was an early mover on AI-assisted permitting and has been a recurring backdrop for parent- and teacher-led debates about classroom AI use. Articles below follow specific Bakersfield initiatives, public-meeting decisions, and Kern County workforce stories — and how they reflect national AI trends from a regional vantage point.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":77},[78],{"id":65,"depth":11,"text":66},"Kern County","Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County are home to some of the most concrete AI-in-government experiments in the Central Valley, from instant municipal permitting to school-district debates about classroom AI. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is reshaping public services, education, and the energy and agriculture economies that dominate the region.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield",{"title":59,"description":10},"cities\u002Fbakersfield","bakersfield","ozFL4HvDA_g7UrRE1mHbKqcS-vDLwbiH9JWVh3rB2Ac",{"id":88,"title":89,"body":90,"county":117,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":118,"meta":119,"navigation":27,"path":120,"seo":121,"stem":122,"tag":123,"__hash__":124},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno.md","Fresno",{"type":7,"value":91,"toc":114},[92,96,111],[63,93,95],{"id":94},"ai-in-fresno","AI in Fresno",[68,97,98,99,102,103,106,107,110],{},"Fresno's AI story spans several distinct ecosystems. ",[72,100,101],{},"Fresno State"," and the ",[72,104,105],{},"California State University"," system anchor a workforce-readiness push, while local ",[72,108,109],{},"Fresno Unified School District"," debates around responsible use have made the city a recurring reference point in California's K-12 AI conversation. The city's economic base in agriculture, healthcare, and public services means most AI adoption stories here are about applied uses rather than model development — a different posture than coastal tech hubs but arguably more consequential for the people living here.",[68,112,113],{},"Use the articles below to follow how AI is showing up in Fresno-area institutions and businesses.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":115},[116],{"id":94,"depth":11,"text":95},"Fresno County","Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley and the regional center for AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, higher education, and small business. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being applied — and contested — in and around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno",{"title":89,"description":10},"cities\u002Ffresno","fresno","gOL2xk8y9t9OV6PPxP02OjYhZFHC_Cg-VGijh_V93dI",{"id":126,"title":127,"body":128,"county":148,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":149,"meta":150,"navigation":27,"path":151,"seo":152,"stem":153,"tag":154,"__hash__":155},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced.md","Merced",{"type":7,"value":129,"toc":145},[130,134],[63,131,133],{"id":132},"ai-in-merced","AI in Merced",[68,135,136,137,140,141,144],{},"Merced is a research-heavy node in the Central Valley AI ecosystem. ",[72,138,139],{},"UC Merced"," faculty appear in national conversations about AI safety, autonomous vehicles, climate modeling, and pediatric health applications, while the ",[72,142,143],{},"Merced Unified School District"," and surrounding county institutions navigate the same K-12 and workforce questions the rest of the Valley faces. The articles below cover both the campus research story and the broader applied uses around the city and county.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":146},[147],{"id":132,"depth":11,"text":133},"Merced County","Merced punches above its weight in AI research, anchored by UC Merced — a leading West Coast hub for AI in agriculture, climate, autonomous systems, and health. Coverage on this page tracks both academic research coming out of the campus and how AI is showing up across Merced's schools, businesses, and county institutions.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced",{"title":127,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmerced","merced","pSWWlEzMdcv2_RZrUKdkEHU3bixNboePGdHbSdd1m34",{"id":157,"title":158,"body":159,"county":175,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":176,"meta":177,"navigation":27,"path":178,"seo":179,"stem":180,"tag":181,"__hash__":182},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto.md","Modesto",{"type":7,"value":160,"toc":172},[161,165],[63,162,164],{"id":163},"ai-in-modesto","AI in Modesto",[68,166,167,168,171],{},"Modesto's AI conversation tends to combine ag-tech adoption stories with workforce-readiness questions for the city's small and mid-sized employers. ",[72,169,170],{},"CSU Stanislaus"," and the regional community college network shape the higher-ed angle. Coverage below follows Modesto-area AI announcements and the wider Stanislaus County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":173},[174],{"id":163,"depth":11,"text":164},"Stanislaus County","Modesto and Stanislaus County sit between the Bay Area and the southern Valley, and their AI story reflects that bridging role — from agriculture and food processing to the **California State University Stanislaus** community to small businesses adapting to AI-driven changes in marketing, hiring, and operations.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto",{"title":158,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmodesto","modesto","l75Dc40MX8wTb4lD088Yx9we4ypuDwmcvE-uEdqqREc",{"id":184,"title":185,"body":186,"county":202,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":203,"meta":204,"navigation":27,"path":205,"seo":206,"stem":207,"tag":208,"__hash__":209},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton.md","Stockton",{"type":7,"value":187,"toc":199},[188,192],[63,189,191],{"id":190},"ai-in-stockton","AI in Stockton",[68,193,194,195,198],{},"Stockton's economic base in logistics, healthcare, and higher education gives the city a different AI profile than the southern Valley. ",[72,196,197],{},"University of the Pacific"," anchors the academic conversation, while San Joaquin County government, hospitals, and warehouse operators are navigating practical adoption questions: cost, training, security, workforce impact. The articles below track Stockton-area AI announcements and the broader San Joaquin County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":200},[201],{"id":190,"depth":11,"text":191},"San Joaquin County","Stockton and San Joaquin County sit at the northern edge of the Central Valley, where logistics, healthcare, and the University of the Pacific shape the local AI adoption story. Coverage on this page follows how AI is being put to work — and questioned — across San Joaquin County's institutions, employers, and public services.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton",{"title":185,"description":10},"cities\u002Fstockton","stockton","TYEBK9akp2HbpAFmYY67FeKt7Rs7L8tvtYeQBtgJAHw",{"id":211,"title":212,"body":213,"county":229,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":230,"meta":231,"navigation":27,"path":232,"seo":233,"stem":234,"tag":235,"__hash__":236},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia.md","Visalia",{"type":7,"value":214,"toc":226},[215,219],[63,216,218],{"id":217},"ai-in-visalia","AI in Visalia",[68,220,221,222,225],{},"Visalia's AI footprint is grounded in the practical adoption stories that come with a Tulare County economy built around agriculture, food processing, and rural healthcare. ",[72,223,224],{},"College of the Sequoias"," and the surrounding K-12 districts anchor the education conversation. The articles below cover Visalia-area AI developments and the Tulare County context, with a focus on applied uses rather than research or model development.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":227},[228],{"id":217,"depth":11,"text":218},"Tulare County","Visalia is the largest city in Tulare County and a center for agriculture, healthcare, and county-government services in the southern Central Valley. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being adopted across Tulare County's schools, hospitals, ag operations, and small business community.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia",{"title":212,"description":10},"cities\u002Fvisalia","visalia","gN4g7aAl-cqD4FfSTgtTAarltUoKLh8NFlPzCbZngqU",{"id":238,"title":239,"archived":240,"author":241,"body":242,"date":421,"dateModified":421,"description":422,"extension":13,"meta":423,"navigation":27,"path":424,"rawbody":425,"seo":426,"sitemap":427,"stem":428,"tags":429,"__hash__":433},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fcybercriminals-struggling-to-adopt-ai-in-their-work-research-suggests.md","Cybercriminals Struggling to Adopt AI in Their Work, Research Suggests",false,"CVAI Newsdesk",{"type":7,"value":243,"toc":413},[244,248,252,267,294,298,305,320,324,339,345,351,355,362,366,385,400,403,407],[245,246,239],"h1",{"id":247},"cybercriminals-struggling-to-adopt-ai-in-their-work-research-suggests",[63,249,251],{"id":250},"what-the-findings-show","What the findings show",[68,253,254,255,258,259,262,263,266],{},"New research suggests that ",[72,256,257],{},"cybercriminals"," are experimenting with ",[72,260,261],{},"artificial intelligence",", but most are not yet turning it into a major operational advantage. After examining around ",[72,264,265],{},"100 million posts"," from underground and dark web cybercrime communities, researchers concluded that many offenders still lack the technical skill, knowledge, or resources needed to use AI effectively in their criminal work.",[68,268,269,270,273,274,277,278,281,282,285,286,289,290,293],{},"The work was conducted by researchers from the ",[72,271,272],{},"University of Edinburgh",", the ",[72,275,276],{},"University of Strathclyde",", and the ",[72,279,280],{},"University of Cambridge",", who analyzed discussions in the ",[72,283,284],{},"CrimeBB"," database using a mix of machine-learning tools and manual review. They focused on conversations from ",[72,287,288],{},"November 2022 onward",", a period chosen to capture how criminal communities reacted after the release of ",[72,291,292],{},"ChatGPT"," and the wider spread of generative AI tools.",[63,295,297],{"id":296},"why-ai-has-not-transformed-cybercrime-overnight","Why AI has not transformed cybercrime overnight",[68,299,300,301,304],{},"A central conclusion is that AI has ",[72,302,303],{},"not automatically lowered the barrier to entry"," for cybercrime. Coding assistants and related tools appear to be most useful for people who already have substantial expertise, rather than newcomers with little background. In other words, AI may amplify existing skills, but it does not seem to have eliminated the need for them.",[68,306,307,308,311,312,315,316,319],{},"Researchers found more successful criminal uses in narrower areas, including ",[72,309,310],{},"social media bots"," used for ",[72,313,314],{},"misogynistic harassment",", ",[72,317,318],{},"fraud",", and techniques that help hide suspicious patterns from cybersecurity defenders. At the same time, they said the guardrails built into major chatbots appear to be having a meaningful effect in limiting some harmful uses.",[63,321,323],{"id":322},"the-bigger-warning-for-industry","The bigger warning for industry",[68,325,326,327,330,331,334,335,338],{},"The study’s warning is not that criminals have already mastered AI, but that ",[72,328,329],{},"legitimate organizations"," may create new vulnerabilities by deploying insecure systems of their own. According to the researchers, the more immediate threat comes from businesses and the public adopting poorly secured AI tools that can open the door to damaging attacks with relatively little effort from attackers. They also highlighted concerns about ",[72,332,333],{},"agentic AI systems"," that can act autonomously, as well as insecure ",[72,336,337],{},"AI-generated code"," in commercial products.",[68,340,341,344],{},[72,342,343],{},"Dr. Ben Collier"," of the University of Edinburgh summed up the current moment with a short note of caution rather than panic:",[346,347,348],"blockquote",{},[68,349,350],{},"\"Don't panic yet.\"",[63,352,354],{"id":353},"employment-pressure-inside-cybercrime-communities","Employment pressure inside cybercrime communities",[68,356,357,358,361],{},"Another notable finding is that some people in cybercrime forums appear worried that AI could threaten their conventional ",[72,359,360],{},"IT jobs",". That anxiety matters because the researchers suggest displacement in mainstream technology work could push some technically skilled people toward more cybercriminal activity. The issue is therefore not only what AI lets criminals do today, but also how AI may reshape the labor market around them.",[63,363,365],{"id":364},"why-this-matters-for-technology-policy","Why this matters for technology policy",[68,367,368,369,372,373,376,377,380,381,384],{},"The broader technology message is that AI risk may come as much from ",[72,370,371],{},"defensive weakness and careless deployment"," as from offensive innovation. There is no direct ",[72,374,375],{},"Central Valley"," focus here, but the implications extend to any region where companies, schools, hospitals, farms, or public agencies are adopting automated systems without strong security review. The findings are also notable for California because the peer-reviewed work is scheduled to be presented at the ",[72,378,379],{},"Workshop on the Economics of Information Security"," in ",[72,382,383],{},"Berkeley"," in June, underscoring how closely the cybersecurity field is watching the real-world impact of AI adoption.",[68,386,387],{},[388,389,390,391,393,394,399],"em",{},"Central Valley AI is produced by the ",[72,392,241],{}," team and developed by ",[395,396,43],"a",{"href":44,"rel":397},[398],"nofollow",", a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.",[401,402],"hr",{},[63,404,406],{"id":405},"source","Source",[68,408,409],{},[395,410,411],{"href":411,"rel":412},"https:\u002F\u002Fuk.finance.yahoo.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcybercriminals-struggling-adopt-ai-research-230100748.html",[398],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":414},[415,416,417,418,419,420],{"id":250,"depth":11,"text":251},{"id":296,"depth":11,"text":297},{"id":322,"depth":11,"text":323},{"id":353,"depth":11,"text":354},{"id":364,"depth":11,"text":365},{"id":405,"depth":11,"text":406},"2026-05-03","New research based on roughly 100 million posts from cybercrime forums suggests most cybercriminals are not yet gaining major advantages from AI, while poorly secured AI systems in legitimate use may pose the more immediate danger.",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcybercriminals-struggling-to-adopt-ai-in-their-work-research-suggests","---\ntitle: \"Cybercriminals Struggling to Adopt AI in Their Work, Research Suggests\"\ndescription: \"New research based on roughly 100 million posts from cybercrime forums suggests most cybercriminals are not yet gaining major advantages from AI, while poorly secured AI systems in legitimate use may pose the more immediate danger.\"\ndate: 2026-05-03\ntags:\n  - cybersecurity\n  - technology\n  - research\nauthor: \"CVAI Newsdesk\"\ndateModified: \"2026-05-03\"\n---\n\n# Cybercriminals Struggling to Adopt AI in Their Work, Research Suggests\n\n## What the findings show\n\nNew research suggests that **cybercriminals** are experimenting with **artificial intelligence**, but most are not yet turning it into a major operational advantage. After examining around **100 million posts** from underground and dark web cybercrime communities, researchers concluded that many offenders still lack the technical skill, knowledge, or resources needed to use AI effectively in their criminal work.\n\nThe work was conducted by researchers from the **University of Edinburgh**, the **University of Strathclyde**, and the **University of Cambridge**, who analyzed discussions in the **CrimeBB** database using a mix of machine-learning tools and manual review. They focused on conversations from **November 2022 onward**, a period chosen to capture how criminal communities reacted after the release of **ChatGPT** and the wider spread of generative AI tools.\n\n## Why AI has not transformed cybercrime overnight\n\nA central conclusion is that AI has **not automatically lowered the barrier to entry** for cybercrime. Coding assistants and related tools appear to be most useful for people who already have substantial expertise, rather than newcomers with little background. In other words, AI may amplify existing skills, but it does not seem to have eliminated the need for them.\n\nResearchers found more successful criminal uses in narrower areas, including **social media bots** used for **misogynistic harassment**, **fraud**, and techniques that help hide suspicious patterns from cybersecurity defenders. At the same time, they said the guardrails built into major chatbots appear to be having a meaningful effect in limiting some harmful uses.\n\n## The bigger warning for industry\n\nThe study’s warning is not that criminals have already mastered AI, but that **legitimate organizations** may create new vulnerabilities by deploying insecure systems of their own. According to the researchers, the more immediate threat comes from businesses and the public adopting poorly secured AI tools that can open the door to damaging attacks with relatively little effort from attackers. They also highlighted concerns about **agentic AI systems** that can act autonomously, as well as insecure **AI-generated code** in commercial products.\n\n**Dr. Ben Collier** of the University of Edinburgh summed up the current moment with a short note of caution rather than panic:\n\n> \"Don't panic yet.\"\n\n## Employment pressure inside cybercrime communities\n\nAnother notable finding is that some people in cybercrime forums appear worried that AI could threaten their conventional **IT jobs**. That anxiety matters because the researchers suggest displacement in mainstream technology work could push some technically skilled people toward more cybercriminal activity. The issue is therefore not only what AI lets criminals do today, but also how AI may reshape the labor market around them.\n\n## Why this matters for technology policy\n\nThe broader technology message is that AI risk may come as much from **defensive weakness and careless deployment** as from offensive innovation. There is no direct **Central Valley** focus here, but the implications extend to any region where companies, schools, hospitals, farms, or public agencies are adopting automated systems without strong security review. The findings are also notable for California because the peer-reviewed work is scheduled to be presented at the **Workshop on the Economics of Information Security** in **Berkeley** in June, underscoring how closely the cybersecurity field is watching the real-world impact of AI adoption.\n\n*Central Valley AI is produced by the **CVAI Newsdesk** team and developed by [Kaweah Tech](https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech), a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.*\n\n---\n\n## Source\n\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fuk.finance.yahoo.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcybercriminals-struggling-adopt-ai-research-230100748.html\n",{"title":239,"description":422},{"loc":424},"news\u002Fcybercriminals-struggling-to-adopt-ai-in-their-work-research-suggests",[430,431,432],"cybersecurity","technology","research","nuETeRRJ6BJYgJA7svcFpg7pLgjO8S85zm4w4j5NU98",1779739134739]