AI Systems Now Discover Vulnerabilities and Chain Exploits in Minutes—Patch Windows Collapse to Negative Seven Days

AI-assisted exploitation has moved from theoretical capability to operational reality, with automated systems generating working proof-of-concept exploits for disclosed vulnerabilities in as little as 10 to 15 minutes at approximately one dollar per attempt. The shift fundamentally changes the economics and speed of cyber threats, forcing security teams to defend faster than traditional development and patching cycles allow.