Google's AI agent, Big Sleep, has made a groundbreaking achievement in cybersecurity by stopping a cyberattack before it even began. Developed by Google DeepMind and Project Zero, Big Sleep detected a critical vulnerability in SQLite, an open-source database engine, and prevented hackers from exploiting it. This marks the first time an AI agent has proactively foiled a cyber threat in the wild.
Big Sleep uses a combination of threat intelligence and AI-powered vulnerability discovery to identify potential security flaws. It can scan vast codebases autonomously, surpassing human expertise. In this case, Big Sleep uncovered a critical security flaw in SQLite, known as CVE-2025-6965, which was previously unknown to anyone except threat actors.
This breakthrough signifies a shift from reactive patching to proactive threat prevention. By identifying and neutralizing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, AI agents like Big Sleep can revolutionize cybersecurity. Google emphasizes safeguards like human oversight and privacy protections in its deployment, ensuring transparent decision-making and preventing unintended actions.
The success of Big Sleep demonstrates the potential of AI in enhancing cybersecurity and preventing cyberattacks. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, AI agents like Big Sleep will play a crucial role in protecting devices and data worldwide. With this achievement, Google is ramping up its AI security initiatives, exploring new ways to leverage AI in cybersecurity and protect users from emerging threats.
