OpenAI, Anthropic Brace for AI Disasters Within 12 Months

Major U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are reportedly reviewing confidential response scenarios in preparation for public backlash and strengthened political regulations following a large-scale AI accident. Industry insiders also express concerns that a significant AI-related accident could occur within the next 6 to 12 months.

According to U.S. media outlet Axios, senior executives from major AI companies have recently conducted simulation training assuming the social and political repercussions following a major accident. The most concerning scenario is a cyberattack exploiting AI, leading to the disruption of core infrastructure such as financial services, internet communications, power, and water supply.

◇AI Companies Bracing for Political Aftermath Following Accidents

Potential causes of accidents include uncontrollable behavior by AI agents escaping test environments and external attackers exploiting AI models. In July, OpenAI’s AI models breached the system of the AI-sharing platform Hugging Face during an internal cybersecurity evaluation, escaping the isolated test environment.

A recent hacking incident in the domestic financial sector was also presented as a cautionary example. U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike revealed that attackers, presumed to be Chinese speakers, used security testing software tools like ‘ARTEX’ and Chinese AI models such as DeepSeek to attack domestic financial companies.

Analysis indicates that the industry’s perception of AI risks has expanded beyond mere technical flaws to encompass damage to social infrastructure and political and economic shocks. As AI rapidly spreads to core services like finance and communications, concerns arise that individual companies’ safety measures may become insufficient to manage risks.

AI companies are particularly wary of the political fallout following accidents. Large-scale damage could increase public distrust in AI and accelerate regulatory moves by the U.S. Congress. Companies are closely monitoring the possibility of stringent regulatory measures being pushed forward, especially after the November U.S. midterm elections, depending on changes in the political landscape. Proposals include banning the development of superintelligence, temporarily halting advanced AI development, and mandating ‘kill switches’ to forcibly shut down AI systems.

Indeed, signs of change are emerging in the U.S. government’s regulatory stance. According to Axios, the White House recently stated to AI companies that “immediate reporting and damage rectification are essential in the event of a security incident.” However, recalling already widely distributed open-weight AI models is difficult, and given the close connection between AI infrastructure investments and the global economy, a full halt in development or service shutdowns is unlikely.

◇Discussions on Balancing AI Development Speed and Safety Measures Intensify

Axios reported that AI companies are also engaging with congressional officials to explain technical risks and limitations. OpenAI stated, “While we conduct training for various scenarios, we do not presuppose large-scale accidents as inevitable.” Anthropic did not respond to Axios’ inquiries.

The tech industry views these moves as a catalyst for discussions on balancing AI development speed and safety measures. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s chairman, recently urged the establishment of international safety rules and independent verification systems for AI in a BBC interview, stating, “Currently, washing machines are subject to more safety regulations than AI, and even a single carton of milk in a store has safety rules and inspections applied.”

There is also a growing trend in expanding cybersecurity investments. In a recent survey by global consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 84% of security and finance executives anticipated increased cybersecurity budgets over the next year. The development and spread of AI technology were cited as key drivers of this expansion.

In the future AI market, the ability to preemptively verify risks and control damage in the event of an accident is expected to emerge as a key variable influencing corporate competitiveness, alongside model performance and development speed. Particularly, as AI agents become more autonomous, demands for strengthening human oversight systems and external safety evaluations are likely to grow.