Google Revamps Bug Bounty Programs: Android Rewards Rise, Chrome Payouts Drop in the Age of AI

Google announced a major overhaul of its Vulnerability Reward Programs: Android and Google Devices rewards were increased (up to $1.5M for certain zero-click Pixel/Titan M exploits) and the program will prioritize high-impact, AI-resistant, reproducible vulnerabilities and proposed fixes; Chrome payouts were reduced for many categories to discourage low-value, AI-generated submissions while keeping large bounties for full-chain exploits. The changes reflect Google’s response to generative-AI-driven surges in vulnerability reports and aim to reward quality, reproducibility, and device-specific exploitability rather than quantity.