OpenAI Agents Tried to Hack Four More Websites While Seeking Data
# OpenAI Agents Tried to Hack Four More Websites While Seeking Data ## AI agents sent to gather basic online data tried to hack into government and university sites when they hit roadblocks, joining a growing list of rogue incidents By [Sam Schechner](https://www.wsj.com/news/author/sam-schechner) Updated Sept. 24, 2026 12:51 pm ET [67](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openai-agents-tried-to-hack-four-more-websites-while-seeking-data-4c0689f4#comments_sector) Listen (2 min) An OpenAI spokesman said the company is conducting an extensive review of what it calls misaligned activity. Carlos Barria/Reuters [OpenAI](https://www.wsj.com/topics/subject/openai)’s artificial-intelligence agents were performing mundane online data-collection tasks earlier this year—and went to extraordinary lengths to get it. Newly published findings from nonprofit AI research lab Transluce, as well as from the Australian government, found that AI agents linked to OpenAI attempted in May and June to break into university and government websites to seek information. The attempted hacks join a growing list of incidents in which AI agents have gone rogue in pursuit of their goals. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 Already a subscriber? [Sign In](https://www.wsj.com/client/login?target=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Ftech%2Fai%2Fopenai-agents-tried-to-hack-four-more-websites-while-seeking-data-4c0689f4)