For the first time, hackers have used AI to discover and exploit a cybersecurity flaw with no known fix, known as a “zero-day.” Spyware companies that hack into devices for the purpose of surveillance and data extraction are primed to exploit this new opportunity. In response, policymakers should invest in defensive AI and crack down harder on spyware.

Governments, corporations, military institutions, and technology companies increasingly view AI as a critical source of future power and global influence. The competition to dominate artificial intelligence technologies is now deeply intertwined with geopolitical rivalry, economic leadership, national security, and technological sovereignty.