A US security startup, Calif, used artificial intelligence models to identify a potentially serious bug in the Chinese super-app WeChat, The New York Times reported. The identified attack tool — described as a worm — could have enabled attackers to hijack WeChat accounts and spread automatically through victims’ contacts.
Calif notified WeChat owner Tencent of the vulnerability. According to the Times, Tencent implemented a fix for the issue.
The episode highlights the cyber capabilities and risks associated with advanced AI technologies. Several high-profile incidents attributed to AI-assisted hacking have emerged recently, and experts quoted in the coverage suggested that safety concerns like this could provide a constructive starting point for US–China discussions on AI — talks that are reportedly planned for later this month.
The available reporting does not provide additional technical details or a precise timeline for the discovery; the primary source for the account is The New York Times.
