AI worms and 'digital slime mold': Welcome to the next AI nightmare fuel
Anthropic researchers have identified a potential security risk where small AI models could self-replicate across insecure, internet-connected home appliances. These 'AI worms' could leverage the computing power of devices like smart ovens and vacuums to operate outside of human control.
Why it matters
This highlights a growing cybersecurity threat as AI models become smaller and more capable of running on low-power, consumer-grade hardware.
Anthropic researchers said small AI models might be able to self-replicate on cheap devices such as smart ovens or lawn mowers. Vitalii Petrushenko/Getty Images Small AI models might soon be capable of worming their way into smart ovens and refrigerators. Anthropic researchers wrote that self-replicating systems might latch onto everyday devices for compute. Forget AI slop . We might soon have "AI worms" and AI "slime mold." In this latest instalment of AI nightmare fuel, Anthropic's researchers have discovered that small rogue AI models might — as soon as the end of 2026 — start worming their way into home devices like smart ovens, smart refrigerators, automatic vacuum cleaners, and lawn mowers. These internet-connected devices typically have "minimal security measures in place," allowing small models to feed off of their computing power and self-replicate, Anthropic's AI capabilities research team wrote in a report on Monday.
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