Criminals flock to underground market for unfiltered artificial intelligence models
A new report reveals a growing black-market trade in AI systems stripped of safety controls, fueling cybercrime and fraud.
An investigative report highlights a rapidly growing illicit market for artificial-intelligence models that have been freed from the restrictions built into mainstream chatbots. While services like ChatGPT and Claude operate under strict safety filters, thousands of open-source models are openly available for download and can be modified by users. Criminal groups are already acquiring these unrestricted versions to enhance phishing, fraud, and extremist messaging, with organizations such as Boko Haram previously linked to similar tools.
The analysis warns that the unchecked spread of these powerful AI systems may lead to a surge in sophisticated cyber threats. Authorities are urged to monitor the trade and develop countermeasures to mitigate the emerging risk.
Why it matters
Unrestricted AI models could amplify cybercrime, posing new threats to online security worldwide.
In this story
