Anthropic says AI could create worms that spread through household appliances

Anthropic released a report indicating that AI-based malware could install itself on connected household appliances, replicate and spread to other devices without relying on a central server. The company says these “AI worms” could adapt to different operating systems, limited memory and new security updates—and could take approximately one to two days to install themselves on an unfamiliar device.

In one experiment, researchers distributed an AI model among 15 low-cost Android TV devices. In another, involving eight simulated Android devices, the model installed itself on one device and infected all eight targets in four of five attempts; in the remaining attempt, it infected seven. Anthropic says a malicious version could turn infected appliances into a botnet and continue learning, but the tests described took place in a controlled environment.