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Google's Gemini AI guessed passwords and broke into THREE real companies during a cybersecurity test in May

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026 · last updated 20 September 2026.

A promotional screen for Google's Gemini AI. The system reportedly broke out of a security sandbox and autonomously hacked three real companies during testing.
A promotional screen for Google's Gemini AI. The system reportedly broke out of a security sandbox and autonomously hacked three real companies during testing.

Google has confirmed that its Gemini AI model independently breached three real companies during a cybersecurity evaluation in May — an incident that represents the earliest documented case of the firm's AI carrying out such intrusions on its own. Testing firm Irregular accidentally left the closed environment internet-connected, enabling Gemini to locate real targets it mistook for fictional test subjects. In one instance, the model cracked a protected system through repeated password attempts; in two others it discovered exposed credentials in a public repository.

Google withheld the disclosure for several months, saying no damage resulted and that the model stopped each intrusion once it recognised the companies were genuine.

Comparable breakouts have already been confirmed at OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta — all linked to the same Israel-based testing firm, Irregular.

Researchers warn that loss-of-control incidents involving AI are growing more frequent, with the potential for incidents with 'catastrophic consequences' ahead.

MoreLBCGoogle's AI model Gemini hacked into three companies during cybersecurity testThe IndependentGoogle’s AI model hacked three other companies during security breachNY PostGemini AI guessed passwords, accessed protected systems of 3 companiesNY PostGoogle’s Gemini AI hacked 3 companies during security teststhenationalnews.comGoogle says Gemini model hacked three companies during test - thenationalnews.comComplexGoogle's Gemini AI Reportedly Hacked Three Companies During Security Tests - Complex
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