The Vergecast · Thursday, October 1, 2026
A caller raised concerns that AI-powered hacking and unvetted AI-generated code could erode trust in the internet, making cloud data and online services less reliable. Hosts acknowledged the increasing threat of hacks, citing government website breaches and phishing attempts. While believing companies will invest in cybersecurity to maintain trust, they also noted the growing problem of AI impersonation and scams affecting individuals.
“My thesis here is that AI-powered hacking and the proliferation of AI-written code that we aren't able to fully understand, or even VET is going to shift our perception of the internet from a relatively reliable place to a place where keeping data private and accessible in the cloud, or even getting Spotify or Netflix to always be online, is a bit like flipping a coin.”
“The Internet's dominant role in our society is built on trust and its stability. And I don't think enough of our discourse about AI is talking about how little it might take to break that trust.”
“I personally don't think we'll get to a point where you're not going to be able to trust that anything is actually going to be working at any given time because these companies have a lot to lose for people not using their service because they can't trust it.”
“I mean, I have talked about on this show how I am being impersonated by AI. Yep. And apparently this is happening to every podcast. Really? I mean, I was on NPR's website and at the bottom of the page now it says, basically a warning against this thing.”