Agents
Apate uses AI bots to waste scammers' time
WIRED AIhigh confidence
Why it matters
- →AI agents can actively disrupt criminal operations by wasting attacker time and resources.
- →Scalable honeypots provide real-time intelligence on fraud networks without human intervention.
- →Generative AI is shifting from content creation to active defensive security measures.
Australian cybersecurity startup Apate has deployed a network of 350,000 AI agents designed to intercept and engage with phone and text scammers. The system uses large language models to simulate realistic victims, keeping conversations open for extended periods to waste criminal resources and gather intelligence on fraud operations. Supported by banks and telecom providers, the platform has already collected over 250,000 data points on scammers, including URLs and money mule accounts. This approach represents a growing trend of using generative AI for active defense and disruption in cybersecurity.
Read originalThe story around this
Earlier coverage that leads up to this article, and what followed. Lines connect each piece to the closest one after it, converging here.
How we got here
- 1Defenders Use Prompt Injections to Stop AI Attacks
WIRED AI · July 18, 2026 · Background
- 2OpenAI Disrupts Cambodia-Based Scam Operation
OpenAI · July 31, 2026 · Background
- 3Amazon AI Helps Identify Scam Messages
TechCrunch AI · September 2, 2026 · Background
- 4AI Hotlines Launched for Agent Whistleblowing
TechCrunch AI · September 15, 2026 · Background
- 5Baselayer Raises $35M for AI Agent Identity Verification
Crunchbase News · September 22, 2026 · Background
- 6AI Agents as Malware Distribution Channels
AI News · September 23, 2026 · Background
- 7Massive AI-Fueled Cyberattack Targets 100 Companies
AI Explained · September 24, 2026 · Background
- 8OpenAI Dots Agent Review: Rough but Real
WIRED AI · October 7, 2026 · Background
What happened next
- 9AI Agent Privacy Promises vs. Reality
The Verge AI · October 10, 2026 · Background
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