US firm used AI to hijack WeChat account, spurring call for cyber cooperation with China

The speed at which Calif's AI system developed the WeWorm exploit for WeChat points to a significant acceleration of cyber threats in Asia. A vulnerability of this complexity previously required months of work from larger engineering teams, but AI can now automate much of this process. This means Asian tech companies, particularly those with widely used messaging and payment platforms like Tencent, face an evolving threat landscape where new exploits can emerge much faster. The collaboration between Calif and Tencent to patch the WeChat flaw is a positive development, but it also highlights the urgent need for more robust bilateral cooperation between the United States and China on cybersecurity. With AI-driven threats becoming more sophisticated, a coordinated approach is essential to protect the digital infrastructure that underpins daily life and commerce across the region. The incident with WeChat, a critical app for millions in China and beyond, underscores the potential for widespread disruption if such vulnerabilities are not addressed swiftly.