Microsoft is set to break its patch Tuesday record for the third time in a few months, according to sources cited by The Verge, as new AI models capable of rapidly discovering software vulnerabilities drive a surge in security fixes. The trend began in April when Anthropic's Mythos model reportedly found vulnerabilities across every major operating system and web browser, followed weeks later by OpenAI releasing a cybersecurity-focused model to trusted partners. Both models are said to have contributed to an escalating series of record patch releases over the summer, as Microsoft races to fix flaws before malicious actors can exploit them.

Microsoft typically patches around 100 flaws a month, but June saw roughly 200 fixes, July jumped to at least 570, and August brought nearly 400. This month's patch Tuesday is expected to exceed 650 fixes for Windows alone, around six times the pre-AI norm. The rapid pace is also straining businesses, which must test and apply patches quickly to avoid a "patch gap" — a risk heightened by reports that Mythos can generate working exploits for newly disclosed vulnerabilities within hours rather than weeks.