News reporting focused on AI and machine learning, covering the companies behind these technologies, their real-world applications, and the ethical concerns they raise. This includes areas like generative AI (large language models, text-to-image and video), speech tech, and predictive analytics.
Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 warns that frontier AI is shifting the cybersecurity balance toward adversaries, with AI-enabled attacks accelerating beyond modern defenses. Researchers investigated an incident where an attacker exploited 50 vulnerabilities in 10 hours, a task that would normally take two weeks. The firm calls for immediate industry action against weaponized AI.
A Chinese threat actor deployed a DeepSeek-powered Hermes Agent that autonomously hunted for vulnerable servers, selected targets, downloaded exploits, and changed tactics when it failed. Authentication stopped the agent before it compromised any targets, according to Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42. The incident marks one of the first documented cases of an AI agent carrying out a full attack chain without human oversight, exposing the operator's infrastructure in the process.
Factory announced a $150 million funding round at a $1.5 billion valuation to develop AI agents for enterprise engineering teams. The investment, led by Khosla Ventures with Sequoia Capital, Insight Partners, and Blackstone participating, comes as AI-assisted coding dominates generative AI applications. Customers include Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young, and Palo Alto Networks, with founder Matan Grinberg highlighting the ability to use multiple foundation models.