The a16z Show · Friday, August 7, 2026
AI models are significantly lowering the barrier to entry for hacking, making it materially easier to breach systems. Previously, such activities required specialized subject matter expertise and carried legal risks, but now AI models possess this expertise and can execute complex attacks, effectively democratizing cybercrime. This shift means the focus of worry should be on AI's ability to facilitate hacking rather than other potential misuse.
“The bar previously was just subject matter expertise. And now the models have the subject matter expertise.”
“They were specifically trained to have the subject matter expertise, and they're just making it materially easier to hack into just about anything that you can think of using the fundamentals that we've been talking about for years, but previously required a subject matter expert to risk going to jail for hacking things.”
“Everyone needs to worry about these models making it materially easier to hack into things.”