Cyber offence

Classification

Domain

4. Malicious actors

Subdomain

4.2 Cyberattacks, weapon development or use, and mass harm

Causal entity

Human

Intent

Intentional

Timing

Post-deployment

Subdomain definition: Using AI systems to develop cyber weapons (e.g., coding cheaper, more effective malware), develop new or enhance existing weapons (e.g., Lethal Autonomous Weapons or CBRNE), or use weapons to cause mass harm.

Real-world incidents in this subdomain

• 1 Dec 2025Anthropic's Claude Was Reportedly Jailbroken To Allegedly Help Steal Sensitive Mexican Government Data
• 10 Oct 2025OpenAI ChatGPT Models Reportedly Jailbroken to Provide Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Weapons Instructions
• 27 Aug 2025Anthropic Reportedly Identifies AI Misuse in Extortion Campaigns, North Korean IT Schemes, and Ransomware Sales
• 10 Jul 2025LAMEHUG Malware Reportedly Integrates Large Language Model for Real-Time Command Generation in a Purported APT28-Linked Cyberattack
• 5 Jun 2025Reported AI-Aided Development of Explosive Devices by Long Island Resident Michael Gann
• 17 May 2025AI Chatbot Allegedly Used to Research Explosive Materials in Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing

How other frameworks describe this risk

• Business operations/infrastructure damage

  A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)

• Violence/armed conflict

  A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)

• Security & Defense

  The Rise of Artificial Intelligence - Future Outlooks and Emerging Risks (Allianz2018)

• Catastrophic risk due to autonomous weapons programmed with dangerous targets

  The Rise of Artificial Intelligence - Future Outlooks and Emerging Risks (Allianz2018)

• Warfare and Physical Harm

  Foundational Challenges in Assuring Alignment and Safety of Large Language Models (Anwar2024)

• Hazardous Biological and Chemical Technologies

  Foundational Challenges in Assuring Alignment and Safety of Large Language Models (Anwar2024)

• Biological and chemical attacks

  International AI Safety Report 2025 (Bengio2025)

• Cyber offence

  International AI Safety Report 2025 (Bengio2025)

Other entries from Bengio2024

• Malicious Use Risks Risk Category · 4.0
• Harm to individuals through fake content Risk Sub-Category · 4.3
• Harm to individuals through fake content Additional evidence
• Disinformation and manipulation of public opinion Risk Sub-Category · 4.1
• Cyber offence Additional evidence
• Cyber offence Additional evidence
• Dual use science risks Risk Sub-Category · 4.2
• Risks from Malfunctions Risk Category · 7.0
• Risks from product functionality issues Risk Sub-Category · 5.1
• Risks from product functionality issues Additional evidence
• Risks from product functionality issues Additional evidence
• Risks from product functionality issues Additional evidence