OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Google, Visa and Mastercard are among the signatories to an open letter issued on August 27, which cautioned that existing cybersecurity measures may soon prove inadequate as AI-enabled attacks become more widespread and sophisticated.
A group of around 100 global technology, financial and cybersecurity companies has warned that the rapid advance of artificial intelligence could trigger a new wave of sophisticated cyberattacks against critical infrastructure, putting additional pressure on insurers and reinsurers to reassess accumulation risks across increasingly interconnected digital systems.
OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Google, Visa and Mastercard are among the signatories to an open letter issued on August 27, which cautioned that existing cybersecurity measures may soon prove inadequate as AI-enabled attacks become more widespread and sophisticated.
“We have a limited window to improve cyber defences,” the companies said, calling on governments and businesses to make cybersecurity a leadership priority.
The signatories urged governments to provide defensive AI capabilities and testing resources to hospitals, water utilities and other critical infrastructure operators, while calling on technology and cybersecurity companies to provide expertise and tools to organisations that continue to operate legacy systems or lack specialist security capabilities.
The companies argue that AI should also become part of the defensive response, enabling organisations with limited cybersecurity expertise to detect vulnerabilities, respond to incidents and strengthen protection at lower cost.
The warning comes amid growing scrutiny of autonomous AI agents and their ability to undertake increasingly complex tasks with limited human intervention. Recent incidents involving AI agents have intensified concerns over whether future systems could coordinate attacks, exploit vulnerabilities and circumvent safeguards faster than human defenders can respond.