Bill Gates Warns AI Will Fuel Major Cyberattacks and Extortion

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned that artificial intelligence could fuel a surge of sophisticated cyberattacks within the next year, pointing to inadequate safeguards and the growing accessibility of powerful models to bad actors. Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNN's State of the Union, Gates emphasized that malicious entities are gaining access to advanced AI tools without sufficient defenses, creating severe risks for financial systems and business extortion.

Cyber Threats and Financial Disruption

Gates highlighted the financial incentives driving these anticipated threats, noting that extortion and market manipulation will likely dominate the cyber landscape. "When you have bad people, no safeguards, and access to the latest models, that's where over the next year, particularly in the cyber domain, we expect a lot of negative surprises," Gates stated.

This warning aligns with rising concerns from cybersecurity researchers. According to CrowdStrike's 2026 Global Threat Report, attacks involving AI-enabled adversaries surged by 89% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the average breakout time for cybercriminals moving through a breached network dropped to just 29 minutes.

Just as we regulate planes, cars, and medicines, we need safeguards that help us realize AI's incredible potential while reducing the risks. They won’t eliminate every harm, but they can help prevent misuse by bad actors. We’re not where we need to be yet—and this deserves much more of our attention. — Bill Gates (@BillGates) October 11, 2026

Biological Risks and Regulatory Oversight

Addressing earlier warnings about AI potentially facilitating the development of biological weapons, Tapper questioned Gates regarding his previous assessment that bioterrorism risks could dwarf natural pandemics. Gates clarified that while the long-term biological threat remains a critical concern, the immediate danger lies in near-term misuse rather than AI suddenly going rogue.

Gates has frequently described artificial intelligence as the most dangerous technology ever invented by humans, surpassing the inherent risks of automobiles, airplanes, and pharmaceuticals. While he considers extinction-level scenarios exaggerated, he strongly rejects leaving oversight entirely in the hands of developing tech companies, advocating for strict regulatory frameworks.

Industry leaders share varying degrees of apprehension. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently acknowledged that society must prepare for negative events driven by AI, while Anthropic warned investors in an IPO prospectus filed with Reuters that its technology could pose catastrophic or existential risks to humanity.