What Is an AI Worm? Expert Warns of Risks to Fridges, Water Systems
The threat comes as the Trump administration has put artificial intelligence and cybersecurity high on its technology agenda.
Artificial intelligence researchers warn that small AI models could soon replicate across connected hardware, including smart home devices and critical infrastructure, like fridges and water systems. These AI worms would copy themselves without human input, potentially causing physical damage and service disruptions. Anthropic's research suggests that a 9-billion-parameter AI model could run inference on eight of nine tested hardware types, indicating progress towards self-replicating AI malware.
However, the study did not test the malware's impact on food, water, or utility systems. Experts like John Walsh, field CTO for government and critical industries at IGEL, express concern over the potential consequences, emphasizing the need to protect operational technology environments where physical processes are controlled by interconnected systems.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
