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Researchers Warn AI-Generated Passwords Are Predictable and Weak

Experts urge immediate rotation of any LLM-made credentials after tests showed low entropy with patterns reused in public code.

Overview

  • Irregular’s testing of ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini found repeated structures and limited character choices, indicating outputs that only look random.
  • In one Claude sample, 50 prompts produced just 23 unique 16‑character strings, with a single password repeated 10 times and no repeated characters across outputs.
  • Estimated entropy for LLM‑generated 16‑character passwords was about 20–27 bits versus roughly 98–120 bits for truly random strings, implying far faster brute‑force cracking.
  • Common password‑strength meters rated these strings as strong, but researchers say the tools miss model‑specific patterns that dramatically reduce security.
  • Searches on GitHub revealed LLM‑style password fragments in real projects, and follow‑up tests saw Gemini 3 Pro display a built‑in warning and recommend passphrases and password managers.