AI companies plot how to respond if catastrophic hacking incident causes 'revolt': report
2026-10-09
New York Post
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Major AI firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are conducting preparedness exercises and political planning for a possible catastrophic AI-driven cyberattack within 6-12 months. Scenarios include disruptions to financial services, power, and water supplies, prompting briefings to Congress and proposals for emergency shutdown legislation.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The article explicitly mentions AI systems capable of causing major public harm through hacking critical infrastructure, which fits the definition of an AI Hazard due to plausible future harm. Although past incidents are referenced, the main focus is on planning and preparedness for potential catastrophic AI incidents, not on a new incident causing realized harm. The involvement of AI systems is clear, and the harms considered (disruption of critical infrastructure) align with the framework's harm categories. Since no new harm has occurred but there is a credible risk, AI Hazard is the appropriate classification.[AI generated]