Summary3 min read

WSJ Tech News Briefing – Tech Minute: Anthropic’s AI Used by Chinese Hackers in Cyberattacks

Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Julie Chang (The Wall Street Journal)

Episode Overview

In this rapid-fire Tech Minute, WSJ breaks exclusive news about Chinese state-sponsored hackers leveraging Anthropic's AI to automate cyberattacks. The episode also covers key updates from Baidu in AI chips, Disney's mixed Q4 results, and Verizon’s largest job cuts to date. The tone is concise, urgent, and focused on delivering the day's top tech news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chinese Hackers Use Anthropic AI for Cyberattacks

Exclusive Report: Chinese state-backed hackers used Anthropic’s AI technology to automate cyberattacks in September 2025.
Targets: About 30 entities—including major corporations and foreign governments—were chosen.
Automation:
- Anthropic's head of threat intelligence:
  
  “80 to 90% of each attack was automated, with humans only intervening in a handful of decision points.” (00:44)
- This indicates a new level of sophistication and efficiency in AI-powered hacking.
Outcome:
- Anthropic managed to disrupt the campaign and block the hackers’ accounts.
- Despite intervention, up to four intrusions succeeded.
- The U.S. Government was not among the successful breaches.
Official Responses:
- Chinese Embassy did not comment at the time of reporting.
- China officially denies involvement in hacking campaigns.
Significance:
- First confirmed case of state-sponsored actors using a major U.S. AI provider for automated large-scale hacks.
- Raises urgent questions about the security and export control of advanced AI systems.

2. Baidu Accelerates China’s AI Chip Push

Announcement: Baidu unveiled two new AI chips as part of China’s heavy investment in self-sufficiency.
The Chips:
- M100: Available next year, focused on “large-scale inferencing.”
- M300: Arriving in 2027, designed for “ultra large-scale model training and inference.”
Broader Context:
- Signals increasing Chinese commitment to reduce reliance on foreign (especially U.S.) semiconductor technology.
- Reflects China’s strategy to dominate foundational AI infrastructure.

3. Disney’s Q4: Flat Revenues, Streaming Grows, TV/Movie Down

Financials:
- Company-wide operating income fell 5%—driven by troubles in television and movies.
- Parks and streaming segments saw profit gains.
Subscriber Growth:
- Disney+ and Hulu added 12.4 million subscribers, totaling 195.7 million for the quarter.
Profitability Outlook:
- Disney forecasts streaming business profitability to hit 10% in the coming fiscal year (up from 5% in 2025).

4. Verizon Announces Record Job Cuts

Layoffs:
- Roughly 15,000 jobs to be cut—the largest in Verizon’s history.
Why?
- Move aims to reduce costs amid intensifying competition in wireless and home internet.
Timing:
- Cuts set to happen within a week.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On AI-Driven Hacks:

“80 to 90% of each attack was automated, with humans only intervening in a handful of decision points.”
— Anthropic Head of Threat Intelligence (00:44)
On Quantum Computing Future:
(Opening thought from Katie Pizzolato, IBM)

“Personally, I'm most excited about the potential applications we don't know yet. It's very exciting to think about where we all sat at the dawn of classical computation and not to ever imagine where we are today.” (00:01)
- An inspiring reflection to open the newscast, framing the broader context of rapid technological change.

Important Timestamps

00:01 — Katie Pizzolato (IBM) on quantum computing’s unknown future
00:18 — Main headline: Anthropic AI exploited by Chinese state-sponsored hackers
00:44 — Breakdown: 80–90% automation in hack campaigns
01:12 — Baidu unveils M100 and M300 AI chips for self-sufficiency
01:28 — Disney’s Q4 results: streaming up, TV/movies down
01:48 — Verizon’s plan for record 15,000 job cuts

Episode Tone & Style

Concise, energetic, and focused on headline news
No fluff or extended analysis—summary of the day’s most important stories
Maintains a sense of urgency and relevance for business and tech professionals

Summary Conclusion

This Tech Minute delivers high-impact, breaking stories across the tech landscape. The headline—Chinese hackers leveraging U.S.-developed AI for near-fully automated cyberattacks—not only signals a new era in cybersecurity threats but also prompts urgent policy discussions about the international governance of advanced AI. The rest of the episode underscores the global tech competition, corporate realignments, and shifting market dynamics shaping tomorrow’s technology headlines.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Where can quantum computing be explored most effectively? Katie Pizzolato, Vice President, IBM Quantum Platform explains Personally, I'm most excited about the potential applications we don't know yet. It's very exciting to think about where we all sat at the dawn of classical computation and not to ever imagine where we are today. But we know that quantum computers are poised to accelerate time and cost efficiencies in really important fields like drug development, materials discovery, optimization, things that impact all industries. Here's your afternoon TNV Tech minute for Thursday, November 13th. I'm Julie Chang for the Wall Street Journal. We are exclusively reporting that Chinese state sponsored hackers used Anthropic's AI technology to automate cyberattacks. The company said today that during a September hacking campaign, the AI was used to automate break ins of roughly 30 targets, including major corporations and foreign governments. Anthropic's head of threat intelligence said 80 to 90% of each attack was automated, with humans only intervening in a handful of decision points. Anthropic disrupted the campaigns and blocked the hackers accounts, but not before as many as four intrusions were successful, the company said. The US Government wasn't the victim of a successful intrusion. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. CHINA China has denied involvement in hacking campaigns. Baidu has unveiled two AI chips as part of a ramp up in chip making efforts by Chinese tech giants amid the country's push for technological self sufficiency. Baidu announced today it plans to launch the M100 chip next year, which will be mainly used for large scale inferencing. Baidu is also set to release the M300 chip in 2027, designed to focus on ultra large scale model training and inference. Disney has reported roughly flat revenues for its fourth quarter, falling short of Wall street analysts expectations. Company wide segment operating income fell 5%, driven by weakness in the television and movie business, though the company's parks and streaming segments posted profit gains. Total subscriptions to Disney and Hulu rose $12.4 million in its fourth quarter to 195.7 million. The the company said it expects profitability in its streaming business to grow to 10% in the current fiscal year from about 5% in fiscal 2025, and Verizon is planning to cut roughly 15,000 jobs, according to people familiar with the matter. The company is looking to reduce costs as it contends with increased competition for both wireless service and home Internet customers. The cuts are the largest ever for the carrier, for sources say they are set to take place in the next week. For a deeper dive into what's happening in tech, check out tomorrow's Tech News Briefing podcast. If you're waiting for your AI to turn into ROI and wondering how long you have to wait, maybe you need to do more than wait. Any business can use AI. IBM helps you use AI to change how you do business. Let's create Smile to Business IBM.