Google: Hackers Now Use AI Agents to Attack in Hours
Google: Hackers Now Use AI Agents to Attack in Hours
The Spin
Google's findings conclusively prove that AI is widening the gap between defenders and attackers in the latter's favor. Agentic systems can probe the fence continuously at machine speed to find weaknesses, which, when they do, they exploit ruthlessly. When backed by the resources of hostile states, the threat intensifies even further, to everyonethe public's detriment.
While cybercriminals and hackers will use AI as a weapon, the advantage lies squarely with the defenders. Using AI as part of their arsenal, defenders can now use agents to find and patch flaws that humans never had the time or expertise to identify. In this way, defensive automation promises to build a near-impenetrable cyber wall to block the machinations of hostile actors.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 10% chance that a cyberattack targeting AI systems will cause a significant power blackout in the United States before 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Go Deeper
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 7.4.1