OpenAI, Anthropic and other artificial intelligence companies are privately preparing for what could happen after a major AI related crisis. One of the scenarios they are considering is a cyberattack that may disrupt financial services, internet connectivity, electricity or water supplies.
The concern is not limited to the damage such an incident could cause and company executives are also thinking about how the public and lawmakers might react if unsafe AI leads to serious harm. A major incident could fuel opposition to the technology and put pressure on AI companies and government officials to take responsibility.
As per an Axios report, some industry insiders believe a major incident could happen within the next six to 12 months. However, this reflects their concerns about the risks and is not a confirmed prediction from OpenAI or Anthropic.
What AI Crisis Are Companies Preparing For
The scenarios include a cyberattack that disrupts essential services, an AI agent escaping containment during internal testing or even malicious actor finding unexpected ways to misuse publicly available AI models.
Financial services, internet access, electricity and water systems are among the potential targets being considered. An attack could affect the networks and services that people and businesses depend on.
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Recent cyber activity has added to concerns about how AI tools could be misused. A campaign targeting South Korean financial organizations reportedly involved breaches at two banks. In another case, a hacker from China allegedly used AI tools to steal data from tens of thousands of bank customers. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said the attacker used Claude Code to seek help finding places to sell the stolen data.
These cases illustrate the concerns surrounding AI assisted cyber activity, but they do not mean that the larger catastrophe being discussed by industry executives has already occurred.
AgenciesOpenAI and Anthropic prepare for AI disaster
Why AI Companies Are Worried About the Aftermath
A major incident could have consequences beyond the immediate disruption for AI companies. In case an unsafe AI causes serious real world harm then public opposition to the technology could grow and its leaders could face greater scrutiny.
The political response is another concern. Executives involved in the planning expect Democrats to move quickly to pursue restrictions if they gain control of Congress after the midterm elections. Some proposals could include banning superintelligence or pausing the development of advanced AI.
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Other ideas could attract support from both parties. Requiring a kill switch for advanced AI has received bipartisan support and some backing from within the industry. However, experts have questioned whether it would be feasible to switch off all AI systems.
The companies are also considering how to influence the policy debate that could follow a major incident. Their planning includes examining worst case scenarios and educating members of Congress about potential risks. As per Axios report, executives believe new regulation has little chance of passing under current conditions but they want to shape the policies lawmakers might consider after a catastrophe.
Who Could Face Questions After an AI Disaster
A major AI related incident could raise questions about accountability. Company executives, lawmakers and regulators could face scrutiny over whether enough had been done to prevent the harm.
During an interview with Yahoo Finance, Axios technology policy reporter Maria Curi discussed the possibility of greater congressional oversight of AI executives if Democrats gain control of the House, the Senate or both.
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If a major incident occurred, scrutiny could extend beyond the companies developing the technology. Lawmakers and regulators could also face questions about whether they acted quickly enough.
How OpenAI and Anthropic Are Preparing
The reported preparations include exercises in which teams work through worst case scenarios along with efforts to educate members of Congress on potential risks. The planning considers both how an incident might unfold and how officials could respond afterward.
OpenAI said that it conducts preparedness exercises in which teams discuss and work through a range of potential scenarios and these scenarios are not treated as inevitable but are intended to help it prepare for different circumstances.
There is also uncertainty about how Washington would respond. Political divisions could complicate decisions about new restrictions, although a Democratic aide cited in the Axios report pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis as examples of emergencies in which lawmakers set partisan differences aside.
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