Artificial intelligence is enhancing the capabilities of organized crime, facilitating everything from the creation of child sexual abuse images to money laundering through cryptocurrencies, Europol warned on Tuesday. The agency also highlighted emerging technologies such as quantum computing, which could further exacerbate the situation.

In a report outlining the threats posed by organized crime, the European law enforcement agency noted that criminals are exploiting AI as a "catalyst" to accelerate their activities.

"Rapid technological advancements—particularly in artificial intelligence—are reshaping how crime is organized, executed, and concealed," Europol stated in its 80-page threat assessment report.

"These changes are making organized crime more dangerous, posing an unprecedented security challenge across the EU and its member states," the report added.

The integration of AI and other technologies is aiding criminals across a broad range of illicit activities, from drug and human trafficking to cybercrime and identity theft.

Generative AI, in particular, allows criminal networks to target victims across multiple languages and even generate child sexual abuse material, the report warned.

"The very qualities that make AI revolutionary—accessibility, flexibility, and complexity—have also made it an attractive tool for criminals," Europol noted.

The technological advancements leveraged by criminals are also complicating efforts to recover illicit profits.

The confiscation of proceeds from criminal activities has remained stagnant at around 2%, according to Europol, with the challenge "worsening due to the increasing criminal exploitation of digital assets."

Criminal organizations are using cryptocurrencies to launder money and move funds, making detection and eventual asset seizure significantly more difficult.

"The criminal use of cryptocurrencies as a payment method has now expanded beyond cybercrime and is increasingly observed in traditional crime sectors, such as drug trafficking and migrant smuggling," the report stated.

As technology continues to advance, criminal activity is expected to intensify. Europol also highlighted the rapid developments in quantum computing, the metaverse, 6G networks, unmanned systems, and brain-computer interfaces as potential threats.

"The high levels of anonymity, speed, and complexity demonstrated by criminal networks today are expected to increase in the coming years," the report warned.

Quantum computing, in particular, could enable criminals to break existing encryption technologies with ease, undermining cybersecurity on an unprecedented scale.

The report also raised concerns about the prospect of criminal networks being entirely operated by AI.

"The emergence of fully autonomous AI could pave the way for criminal enterprises controlled entirely by artificial intelligence, marking a new era in organized crime," Europol stated.