Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates delivered a stark warning that artificial intelligence will fuel a devastating wave of cyberattacks within the next twelve months, as criminals gain access to powerful AI models without adequate safeguards to protect American businesses and infrastructure.
AI-Powered Threats Escalate Rapidly
Gates told CNN that malicious actors are exploiting the latest AI technology to disrupt financial systems, extort businesses, and execute increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. The billionaire technologist emphasized that criminals operating without safeguards represent an immediate danger to cybersecurity across the nation. His assessment comes as CrowdStrike’s 2026 Global Threat Report documents an alarming 89 percent year-over-year increase in AI-enabled attacks during 2025, while the average time for cybercriminals to move through compromised networks plummeted to just 29 minutes.
Gates specifically warned about established criminal business models that threaten to create market disruptions and target financial institutions. Criminals can now threaten companies with devastating consequences unless ransom demands are met, or manipulate stock markets and betting systems through coordinated AI-powered disruptions. The speed and sophistication of these attacks far exceed traditional cybersecurity threats that American businesses currently face.
Bioterrorism Risk Remains Long-Term Concern
While acknowledging that artificial intelligence could eventually make it easier for terrorists to develop deadly biological weapons, Gates clarified that cyberattacks represent the most immediate threat. He assessed that AI-enabled bioterrorism could become 50 times more likely than natural pandemics, but admitted government leaders are not doing enough to prevent such attacks. The real danger of AI systems becoming uncontrollable remains years away, according to Gates, making the cyber threat the pressing concern for American security in the near term.
Regulatory Response Falls Short
Democratic strategist Oliver Libby told Fox News Digital that Gates’ warning highlights the challenge facing policymakers as they balance technological competitiveness with necessary safeguards. Libby called for coordinated federal and international standards that address platform responsibility, cyber penalties, and child safety while preparing Americans for workforce disruption. The strategist emphasized that leaders must ensure America maintains its technological edge without leaving citizens vulnerable to AI-enabled threats. However, the regulatory framework currently lags far behind the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence capabilities that criminals are already exploiting to target American interests and infrastructure.