Anthropic: small AI models may self-replicate on IoT devices within months

Researchers at Anthropic ran experiments suggesting small AI models are "months away" from autonomous replication and adaptation (ARA) on commercial IoT devices. Such "AI worms" could infect smart thermostats and doorbells and copy themselves across a network without human input or centralized processing.

• Small AI models could self-replicate on IoT devices within months
• An ARA model carries its capabilities, including malware, and needs no server
• Smart home devices face the highest risk of infection
• A single vulnerability could compromise every connected device on a network