The European Central Bank (ECB) tells Europe’s biggest eurozone banks to strengthen their cyber defences in response to risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems. Across multiple outlets, the ECB is described as setting a firm deadline: major lenders must explain, by the end of October, what steps they will take to reduce vulnerabilities and manage AI-enabled cyber threats. The regulator frames the issue around the growing sophistication of potential attackers, including the possibility that AI could be used to automate or enhance hacking attempts against financial infrastructure. Banks are expected to provide plans detailing how they will address these risks, including improvements to security measures and preparedness. The ECB’s request focuses on large institutions, reflecting its view that systemically important banks have a heightened role in safeguarding critical financial services. The announcement signals heightened regulatory attention to cyber resilience, with supervisory expectations expanding to cover threat dynamics associated with AI.