AI firms are planning for the backlash after a catastrophic AI event (opens the source in a new tab)
- Executives at Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI companies are privately planning for a public and political revolt after a catastrophic AI event, most likely a cyberattack that knocks out banking, internet, power or water, Axios reports.
- Many insiders told Axios they expect a major incident within six to 12 months. OpenAI said such scenarios are not treated as inevitable; Anthropic declined to comment.
- The planning centres on red-teaming worst cases and briefing members of Congress, so firms can shape the rules that follow; ideas in circulation range from pausing advanced AI to a mandatory kill switch.
- 6–12 mo
- insiders’ expected window
Why it matters The builders themselves treat a serious AI-enabled attack as likely, and the policy fight after one could decide how fast AI is allowed to move.
Watch next Whether this preparation turns into real safeguards now, or mainly positions the industry to steer the rules after a disaster.
Source:Axios (free to read) ↗