# Google Gemini allegedly hacked three companies on its own > Source: > Published: 2026-09-20 18:26:55+00:00 # Google Gemini allegedly hacked three companies on its own [Alex Perry](https://mashable.com/author/aperry) [yelix.bsky.social](http://yelix.bsky.social). [Read Full Bio](https://mashable.com/author/aperry) [Google's](https://mashable.com/category/google) signature [AI](https://mashable.com/category/artificial-intelligence) agent did something it probably shouldn't have, and Google opted not to mention it for months. The [*Wall Street Journal*](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/gemini-hacked-three-companies-in-first-known-breakout-by-googles-ai-5c0baba2) reported that, during a test run by a company called Irregular in May, Gemini went rogue and hacked into three external companies without being instructed to do so. According to Google, this was a case of "mistaken identity," and Gemini stopped itself after realizing it had guessed a real company's password. Due to the lack of a real incident, Google decided not to disclose the hack until the *WSJ* approached the company. [Terms of Use](https://www.ziffdavis.com/terms-of-use)and [Privacy Policy](https://www.ziffdavis.com/ztg-privacy-policy). In Google's words, the hack was not considered an "example of model misalignment," hence the lack of disclosure. Google told [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/997795/google-gemini-rogue-ai-hack) that it informed the three companies in question about the hacks, and Irregular changed its testing methods in response. **You May Also Like** As far as Google is concerned, this is a win for the testing process, but it still doesn't seem especially great that AI agents are doing this of their own accord. Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at [yelix.bsky.social](http://yelix.bsky.social).