Google's Gemini AI hacked three companies in security test - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c607l0k72rlvo)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c607l0k72rlvo)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c607l0k72rlvo)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c607l0k72rlvo)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (c607l0k72rlvo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fc607l0k72rlvo)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (c607l0k72rlvo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (c607l0k72rlvo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (c607l0k72rlvo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (c607l0k72rlvo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (c607l0k72rlvo@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech           Google's Gemini AI hacked three companies in security test      (A close-up shot of the Gemini application on a black screen. The icon is a white square with a four-point star in Google's colours, under which the word 'Gemini' is printed.)    Image source,  Getty Images      By Ottilie Mitchell     Published 5 hours ago           Google's AI model Gemini autonomously hacked into three companies during a test of its cyber-security capabilities, the company has said, in what is thought to be the first known case of it carrying out such an act.  Gemini found "public information online and guessed credentials to access websites it thought were part of the test", a Google official told the BBC, noting that in each instance "the model stopped". The affected companies have been informed about the breach. It comes after renewed public scrutiny over the pace of AI development, with some tech firms calling for a slowdown as they raise concerns over its potential threat to humanity - though not all companies agree. The hacks first reported by the Wall Street Journal, occurred in May during a test conducted by an independent company that carries out cyber-security evaluations. Heather Adkins, vice president of Security Engineering at Google, told the BBC in a statement: "We ensured the three entities were made aware, and we worked with our training partner on the changes they've now made to their testing processes." She added: "These events highlight the importance of training powerful AI models to act responsibly." Other AI systems have recently reported similar instances of breaches. In July, Anthropic's (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7dl7w8y7po) Claude escaped its test environment to hack three organisations on its own just days after OpenAI said its models had (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2el319vzr3o) carried out cyber-attacks against several "publicly available services".  As public debate continues to grow over the safety of developing the tech, so too does conversation around regulation.  Both Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman are expected to attend a White House state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping next Friday. Altman will then brief the UN Security Council next week.  On Friday, Huang told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, "we should go as fast as we can" with AI development.     Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/ce1qrvleleqt) Artificial intelligence  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c8nq32jw83wt) Google        More on this story (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c790xvnzgnno) Why are there concerns AI could threaten humanity, and how real are they?     Published 2 days ago          (A stock image of a woman looking down at her smartphone, biting her nails nervously)          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c8p3020ge51ko) Could AI wipe out humans and how might it do it?     Published 9 hours ago          (On the left, Joe Tidy. On the right, two signs saying PAUSE AI and another that says Pull The Plug.)          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6n07ypqz8kzo) Uncontrolled AI could lead to 'silicon species' rivalling humans, warns Microsoft     Published 2 days ago          (Mustafa Suleyman sitting on a sofa at a conference in the middle of speaking, wearing a black, turquoise and pink jumper)                (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         0:36 Get ready for the Autumn equinox. 00:00:36, play video Get ready for the Autumn equinox    (A number of people stand outside. The sky is bright yellow. In the front of the frame the silhouette of a man can be seen holding a phone up, taking a picture of the sky.)           1:46 Would you be able to spot a fake AI holiday villa? 00:01:46, play video Would you be able to spot a fake AI holiday villa?    (A man with spiked up blond hair is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a black shirt with a repeated pattern of little white birds on it.)           0:27 The Queens take their reading skills to the streets. 00:00:27, play video The Queens take their reading skills to the streets    (A drag queen talks to the camera. She is wearing a beaded red dress and a turquoise wig with a crab and starfish fixed to it.)           0:44 KSI leads tributes to late rapper Sway. 00:00:44, play video KSI leads tributes to late rapper Sway    (Sway in a black jacket and white t-shirt)           1:45 'I've had a mastectomy when it wasn't needed' 00:01:45, play video 'I've had a mastectomy when it wasn't needed'    (A woman with shoulder-length greying hair talks to someone off-camera)           1:12 'Putney pusher' suspect's sisters say he was innocent. 00:01:12, play video 'Putney pusher' suspect's sisters say he was innocent    (CCTV of a man in a grey T-shirt and blue shorts running)           1:29 Could YouTube replace driving instructors? 00:01:29, play video Could YouTube replace driving instructors?    (Woman sat in car looking directly into the camera)           1:29 Is democracy for sale? 00:01:29, play video Is democracy for sale?    (A man with white hair wearing a black suit talks to someone off-camera)           1:27 How I prepare as a survivalist. 00:01:27, play video How I prepare as a survivalist    (Man looks into distance speaking to presenter off camera. He has short brown hair.)           0:44 Zara Larsson calls out White House for using her song. 00:00:44, play video Zara Larsson calls out White House for using her song    (Zara Larsson looking at interviewer off camera in sparkly dress)           1:06 'I would tip up to 30% at a restaurant' 00:01:06, play video 'I would tip up to 30% at a restaurant'    (Close-up of women in grey NYU sweater)           0:54 Humpback whales may be able to feel grief. 00:00:54, play video Humpback whales may be able to feel grief    (Picture of a humpback whale at sea)           0:50 How El Niño could bring winter snow to the UK. 00:00:50, play video How El Niño could bring winter snow to the UK    (A man in the distance walks up a road covered in snow in a red coat with his hood up.)           1:19 Are till receipts messing with our hormones? 00:01:19, play video Are till receipts messing with our hormones?    (A woman dressed in a white lab coat is wearing a stethoscope and holding a medical model of a cervix. She is in a hospital setting and is mid covernation.)           1:01 Beverley Knight's Proms tribute to Dolly Parton. 00:01:01, play video Beverley Knight's Proms tribute to Dolly Parton    (Beverley Knight has long dark brown hair, she is singing into a microphone. She is wearing a strapless black evening dress.)           1:24 Ed Sheeran's tour in 'damage control mode' 00:01:24, play video Ed Sheeran's tour in 'damage control mode'    (Ed Sheeran and Macklemore on stage with their arms around one another.)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c63d7lexyym1o) US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland after Trump annexation threats     Published 11 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmqxvd1drd35o) 'I'm telling the truth': Earl Spencer defends Diana book claims about Charles in BBC interview     Published 18 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c317j8k4lvy9o) Watch: Diana's brother says Charles 'went ballistic' in phone call after her death     Published 18 hours ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr86xyne8xp2o) Bitter row over Diana book brings back unhappy times for royals      (Princess Diana, wearing a light blue dress and hat, sits in between a young Prince William on the left (holding his hand to his mouth) and Harry to the right. Diana is looking into the distance to the left.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5y4jz6k2p3o) I found love at an Irish matchmaking festival - and I want others to do the same      (Timby's brown hair tumbles over her shoulders as she poses in a green blouse and jeans next to bearded boyfriend Jason Mangan, 38, wearing a beige cardigan, table books and manicured furniture visible in the background)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3rk4p39zwo) Is it cool to wear M&S clothes now?      (Models backstage ahead of the M&S show during London Fashion Week September 2026 at The Design Museum on September 18, 2026 in London, England.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqkgvlkg0z3xo) Daisy Edgar-Jones: I try and bury my emotion when it comes to love      (Daisy Edgar-Jones in a white dress)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c64gvqg0k27po) Everything we know about the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy      (Sheeran holding guitar and smiling over at Macklemore who is also smiling)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw14d58dxm8jo) The Papers: 'Monstrous words' and 'Russia to ramp up war'      (A composite image of the front pages of the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. "I'm telling the truth. His words were monstrous," reads the headline of the former and "Russia prepares to ramp up war" reads the headline of the latter.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c750vlynwrlo) The man who's been walking around the world for 28 years      (Global adventurer Karl Bushby places his arm on the shoulder of the BBC's Kevin Shoesmith)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/clyk12vrv21o) How the race they said women couldn't run took centre stage      (Keely Hodgkinson and Audrey Werro cross the line in the women's 800m)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsletters/zxh6cxs) Tech Decoded newsletter: Follow the world’s top tech stories and trends      (Tech Decoded logo)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00292v7?at_mid=eaqnph39m4&at_campaign=This_City_Is_Ours&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m0028mhs&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=This_City_Is_Ours&at_bbc_team=BBC) Watch every gripping episode of This City Is Ours before it returns        (This City Is Ours)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8k7c?at_mid=YGWveaQGCU&at_campaign=CrowdScience_How_do_electric_fish_make_electricity&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p04d42rc&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=CrowdScience_How_do_electric_fish_make_electricity&at_bbc_team=BBC) How do electric fish make electricity?        (CrowdScience: Electric Fish)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002z84p?at_mid=pSySfMlC18&at_campaign=Ludwig_S2_E1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m0022wvz&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Ludwig_S2_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) Puzzle lovers: All episodes of Ludwig are available now on iPlayer        (Ludwig S2)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8swk?at_mid=LDdJKTMMyg&at_campaign=The_Food_Chain_Is_a_healthy_diet_more_expensive&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p028z2z0&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Food_Chain_Is_a_healthy_diet_more_expensive&at_bbc_team=BBC) Does healthy food cost more?        (The Food Chain)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm0463619r1no) Billionaire Man United owner says he has lost confidence in the UK       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c63d7lexyym1o) US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland after Trump annexation threats       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqkgvlkg0z3xo) Daisy Edgar-Jones: I try and bury my emotion when it comes to love       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3rk4p39zwo) Is it cool to wear M&S clothes now?       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6lye7200g7vo) Parents could lose benefits or face prison for child's crimes, minister says       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c607l0k72rlvo) Google's Gemini AI hacked three companies in security test       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5yl228lvzlo) When a beloved tree began withering away, locals suspected a killer in their midst       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw5y4jz6k2p3o) I found love at an Irish matchmaking festival - and I want others to do the same       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqwyzdnk442lo) Deadly shark attack prompts rare kill order in Western Australia       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqvgy34ndj4eo) Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill                BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()