AI Accelerates Vulnerability Discovery, Putting Pressure on Security Teams

A new report from Google's Threat Intelligence Group reveals that AI is significantly accelerating vulnerability discovery. The number of disclosed vulnerabilities doubled in 2026, and high-risk flaws are increasing rapidly.

The researchers found that AI-powered tools are identifying a larger share of vulnerabilities that can lead to remote code execution. This growing volume of discoveries creates new challenges for security teams already struggling with patch fatigue.

According to the report, only a small fraction of disclosed vulnerabilities are actively exploited, but attackers appear to be moving faster to exploit newly disclosed flaws. Google recommends intelligence-led vulnerability management and prioritizing vulnerabilities based on real-world threat intelligence, exploit activity, and business impact.