Mid-tier AI models, including Z.ai's GLM-5.2 and xAI's Grok 4.5, have significantly improved their hacking capabilities, posing a substantial threat to the security ecosystem. Research from XBOW reveals that these models, often overlooked in favor of more advanced "frontier" models, are becoming increasingly adept at exploitation tasks1. The growth of this "middle class" of AI models is particularly concerning, as they are more accessible and widely available than their more sophisticated counterparts. As a result, they may be used by a broader range of malicious actors, increasing the overall hacking threat. The improvement in these models' capabilities is attributed to advancements in open-source and proprietary technologies, such as Anthropic's Opus 4.7 and Meta's Muse Spark 1.1. This development matters to security practitioners, as it highlights the need to expand their focus beyond the most advanced AI models to include these increasingly capable mid-tier threats.