Apple released iOS 26.5.2 security patches early to thwart AI-assisted hacks

Apple today released iOS 26.5.2, iPadOS 26.5.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 with a long list of security fixes that it initially introduced in the beta versions of iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.6.

Apple said Reuters that it released the updates ahead of schedule due to concerns about AI-assisted hacks.

The company told Reuters on Monday that it was adapting to the reality that, given artificial intelligence’s ability to accelerate the development of malicious hacking tools, it needed to reduce the time between when updates were first made public and when they got into customers’ hands.

Vulnerability fixes are usually included in most Apple software updates, but its major updates usually include more fixes. Apple intended to release more than 25 security fixes introduced today in iOS 26.6 and its sister updates, but didn’t want to wait until iOS 26.6 was released.

In its security document describing the changes, Apple did not state that any of the patched vulnerabilities had been actively exploited, and the company further stated Reuters that there was no evidence that any of the now-patched vulnerabilities had been exploited. Apple said the time between announcing security patches and their deployment needed to be compressed, but did not specify which vulnerabilities were causing the urgency.

Apple is a partner in Anthropic’s Project Glasswing and uses Claude Mythos Preview to find and fix vulnerabilities before hackers can use them to hack devices. It’s unclear whether Mythos played a role in Apple’s decision to release the patches ahead of schedule.