Hackers using AI just found a ‘zero-day.’ The spyware industry is watching.
Hackers using AI just found a ‘zero-day.’ The spyware industry is watching.
Publish Date: 2026-05-19 16:36:00
Source Domain: www.atlanticcouncil.org
- Hackers are increasingly using AI for offensive cyber operations, escalating risks for US national security.
- AI reduces the cost and expertise to discover and exploit zero-days, making vulnerabilities more accessible.
- Spyware vendors are heavily leveraging AI to quickly fill a pipeline of zero-days, gaining a major advantage over traditional security controls.
- AI’s role in cybersecurity is dual, as it can both accelerate offensive exploits and enhance defensive capabilities.
- To counter the risks posed by AI-fueled offensive cyber operations, policymakers should invest more in defensive AI technologies, continue applying pressure on spyware vendors, and accelerate the adoption of memory-safe programming languages to reduce vulnerabilities.
