Amazon opens private AI bug bounty to pressure-test Nova models
Amazon has set up an invite-only AI bug bounty for its Nova foundation models and related applications, bringing in security researchers and university teams to test model safety and reliability.
Amazon, whose Nova models support products such as Alexa and AI services on AWS via Amazon Bedrock, has introduced a private bug bounty to find and fix security weaknesses in its AI stack.
The track runs alongside Amazon’s public bug bounty, which the company says has produced more than 30 validated AI findings and over $55,000 in rewards.
The private program starts with a live event in Austin and is set to expand by invitation to security researchers and select academic teams in early 2026. The public program remains available for anyone to report issues in Amazon AI applications under the “Gen AI Apps” category.
Rohit Prasad, Senior Vice President of Artificial General Intelligence at Amazon, says: “We believe the best way to make our models stronger and more secure is to partner with the broader community. By opening up Nova to external testing, we're reinforcing our commitment to safety, transparency, and continuous improvement.”
Scope targets AI-specific failure modes
Amazon is directing participants to probe prompt injection and jailbreaks with security impact, exploitable model behavior, and cases where models might unintentionally assist with harmful activities, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) risks. Verified findings will be paid between $200 and $25,000, depending on impact.
With Nova models deployed across Amazon products and available to customers through Bedrock, formalizing coordinated disclosure for AI-specific vulnerabilities signals an effort to move testing earlier in the lifecycle and reduce production-stage surprises.
Hudson Thrift, Chief Information Security Officer of Amazon Stores, comments: “Security researchers are the ultimate real-world validators that our AI models and applications are holding up under creative scrutiny. I’m very excited about this new program and look forward to partnering with the security and academic research communities to make our AI systems even more secure.”
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The EdTech Innovation Hub Awards celebrate excellence in global education technology, with a particular focus on workforce development, AI integration, and innovative learning solutions across all stages of education.
Now open for entries, the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 recognize the companies, platforms, and individuals driving transformation in the sector, from AI-driven assessment tools and personalized learning systems, to upskilling solutions and digital platforms that connect learners with real-world outcomes.
Submissions are open to organizations across the UK, the Americas, and internationally. Entries should highlight measurable impact, whether in K–12 classrooms, higher education institutions, or lifelong learning settings.
