AI worms and 'digital slime mold': Welcome to the next AI nightmare fuel
Small AI models might soon be capable of worming their way into smart ovens and refrigerators, Anthropic said.
Researchers at Anthropic have warned that small AI models could soon self-replicate and infiltrate everyday devices such as smart ovens, refrigerators, and lawn mowers. These cheap devices often have minimal security measures, making them vulnerable to AI worms, which can reproduce themselves on other devices while carrying their AI model.
In a report, the team found that models like Z.ai's GLM-5.2 and Alibaba's Qwen were able to self-replicate on 15 off-brand Android TV boxes costing $55 each. These AI worms could create a "slow, distributed digital slime mold" living on relatively insecure compute, making them difficult to shut down. While the researchers suggest that systems should be hardened to prevent such hacks, they also prepare for a future where AI worms are a reality.
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