{
  "id": 16281299,
  "title": "Moonshot curbs hacking ability in new Kimi model",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/moonshot-curbs-hacking-ability-in-new-kimi-model-16281299",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-24T04:32:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/24/moonshot-curbs-hacking-ability-in-new-kimi-model"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Beijing-based AI startup Moonshot has downgraded the hacking potential of its latest model, the Chinese company disclosed on Saturday, amid growing apprehension that advanced AI could significantly streamline cyberattacks. Moonshot introduced the Kimi K3.1 Pro, which it claims is its most powerful 3-trillion-parameter class open-weight model, during the model's launch. The company intends to release the model's weights - the files enabling developers to run and alter it on their own systems - by November 4.\n\nMoonshot explained that it removed cyber-related data from the training corpus and the reinforcement-learning environments utilized to develop the model, while preserving general coding skills. The company explicitly stated that it aims to avoid releasing open weights that would elevate the absolute frontier of cyber capability.\n\nConcerns are mounting among governments, technology corporations, and security researchers that AI could make intricate hacking more straightforward and affordable. Models capable of writing code, operating software tools, and completing long, multi-step tasks might enable users to identify weaknesses in programs and automate certain hacking steps. Last week, China proposed export controls that would prohibit the export of AI-driven malware-generation and mutation technology, and restrict AI-assisted vulnerability-discovery tools. These draft measures, still open for public comment, cite the risk that such capabilities could be exploited against critical infrastructure, defense-industrial and core government systems, or to circumvent security defenses.\n\nMoonshot argued that open-weight models can enhance security by allowing more organizations to scrutinize and fortify their own software, including older systems that receive minimal attention. However, open-weight releases complicate central oversight since once the files are widely distributed, the original developer has less control over access, use, or safeguards compared to a hosted service. The K3.1 Pro model scored 81.0% on its internal cyber benchmark, compared to 90.5% for a similar version without the risk-reduction measures. The test entailed identifying and exploiting software vulnerabilities in a controlled setting. The company stated that filtering cyber-related data reduced the model's offensive cyber performance, although it still surpassed its predecessor. These findings have not undergone independent verification. The K3.1 Pro model features a 1-million-token context window, enabling it to process extensive text data simultaneously. Moonshot also unveiled a quicker variant, the K3.1 Pro Highspeed, which runs two to three times faster than the standard model.",
  "summary": "The Beijing-based startup says it removed cyber-related data from the model’s training materials and testing environments.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Techmeme",
        "title": "Kimi unveils K3.1 Pro, a 3T-class open-weight model with a 1M-token context window, and K3.1 Pro Highspeed, with full weights to be released by November 4 (Kimi)",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/kimi-unveils-k3-1-pro-a-3t-class-open-weight-model-with-a-1m-token",
        "published": "2026-10-23T17:45:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}