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Bill Gates Warns of Surge in AI-Powered Cyberattacks Within the Next Year
By Drooid · · How we work
AI-Powered Cyber Threats Highlighted by Bill Gates
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told CNN’s Jake Tapper that, without safeguards, “bad people” will use the latest AI models to launch a wave of cyberattacks over the coming year. He said the most immediate danger is not AI “getting out of control” but the exploitation of current systems for extortion, market disruption and other financially motivated crimes. Gates also warned that AI could make bioterrorist attacks up to 50 times more likely than a natural pandemic.
Recent Rise in AI-Enabled Attacks
The CrowdStrike 2026 Global Threat Report documented an 89 % year-over-year increase in attacks attributed to AI-enabled adversaries in 2025, and noted that the average time for cybercriminals to move laterally within compromised networks fell to 29 minutes. These figures illustrate the accelerating speed and scale of threats that Gates described.
Official Statements & Responses
Gates’ interview emphasized the need for stronger safeguards and regulatory frameworks. He dismissed the notion, advocated by former President Donald Trump, that AI companies can self-regulate sufficiently to protect society.
Oliver Libby, a Democratic strategist, called for a coordinated regulatory approach that includes federal and international standards, platform responsibility, penalties for cyber and deep-fake misuse, child-safety measures, and preparation for potential workforce disruption.
Criticism of Self-Regulation
During the same interview, Gates directly rejected Trump’s claim that industry self-regulation is the “final word” for the most dangerous technology humanity has created, stating that “we’re not doing enough.” This critique underscores a broader debate over whether voluntary corporate safeguards can match the pace of AI development.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The great challenge both for innovators and governments in the coming months is to balance continued progress in AI with smart regulation. Leaders who can balance ensuring that America is not left behind, but that no American is left out, will win public trust,” — Oliver Libby, UNCHECKED democratic strategist
- “Regulation should focus on federal and international standards, platform responsibility, cyber and deepfake penalties, child safety, and ensuring the participation of the population in the economic benefits of this powerful technological revolution — while starting to prepare our society for what could be profound workforce disruption,” — Oliver Libby, UNCHECKED democratic strategist