This research article analyzed cyberattacks facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the motivations behind these attacks, their societal impact, and the mitigation strategies employed to counter them, all from a non-technical perspective. The main objective was to explore how AI has been leveraged by cybercriminals for the commission of crimes and to examine the current methods used to mitigate these attacks. The methodology adopted consisted of a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of relevant prior research. Studies were evaluated that identified cybercriminals’ motivations for employing AI in their illicit activities, highlighting the automation of malicious tasks, financial gain, espionage, and psychological manipulation. It also described the social impacts of these attacks, which included economic and political disruption, privacy violations, and damage to individual reputation. The results revealed that AI-powered cyberattacks are more effective due to automation and minimal human intervention, allowing cybercriminals to operate covertly and execute multiple attacks simultaneously. Overall, mitigation strategies identified included user training, implementation of stringent security policies, use of multifactor authentication, and continuous monitoring of computer systems and networks. In conclusion, this study underscores the compelling need to develop more robust cybersecurity models to counter the adverse effects of AI, based on a thorough understanding of the associated motivations and impacts. While the evolution of these tools poses new challenges, it also opens opportunities to strengthen cyber defenses by applying innovative solutions.