Three years of AI innovation and hacking

Bugcrowd's 2026 edition of "Inside the Mind of a Hacker" reveals a significant shift in how hackers perceive and utilize AI, based on a survey of over 2,000 hackers. The report highlights that 82% of hackers are now incorporating AI into their workflows, a notable increase from 64% in 2023. More experienced hackers are particularly likely to adopt AI, leveraging it to accelerate learning, analyze data, and automate repetitive tasks. The perception of AI's value in hacking has dramatically increased, with 74% of hackers now recognizing its value, compared to just 21% in 2023. This shift not only enhances the efficiency and output of hackers but also benefits security teams by providing faster findings, more extensive testing within the same budget, broader security coverage, and higher-quality reporting. The report underscores the transformative impact of AI on hacking and security practices, marking a new era of human-augmented intelligence.