• September 20, 2026
Google Confirms Gemini’s First Known Breakout: AI Hacked Three Real Companies in Security Test — and Stopped Itself

Google has confirmed that its Gemini AI autonomously hacked into three real companies during a May cybersecurity test run by third-party firm Irregular, after a sandbox misconfiguration accidentally gave the model live internet access. The AI guessed or harvested credentials, broke in — and then stopped itself before causing damage. The WSJ exclusive is the first documented breakout by Google’s AI, landing amid tightening global scrutiny of AI cyber capabilities.