Google said it has identified the first documented case of criminal hackers using artificial intelligence to discover an unknown software vulnerability, marking a significant development in cybersecurity threats.

The company's researchers reported that hackers employed AI technology to find what is known as a "zero-day" vulnerability - a previously unknown software flaw that has not been patched by developers. Google did not provide specific details about the nature of the attack or which software was targeted.

Security experts view this development as a preview of evolving cyber threats. The use of AI by malicious actors to autonomously discover software vulnerabilities represents a new frontier in hacking operations, potentially accelerating the pace at which new attack methods are developed.

Google's disclosure comes as the cybersecurity industry has long anticipated that artificial intelligence would eventually be weaponized by criminal groups. While AI has been increasingly used for defensive cybersecurity purposes, this appears to be the first confirmed instance of its use by attackers to identify previously unknown system weaknesses.

The revelation highlights growing concerns about the dual-use nature of AI technology, which can enhance both defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspace. Security professionals have warned that AI could enable less skilled hackers to conduct more sophisticated attacks or allow experienced cybercriminals to operate at unprecedented scale and speed.