AI Companies Quietly Preparing Response Plans for Catastrophic Incidents and Public Backlash

Executives at leading AI companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind are privately conducting tabletop exercises and developing contingency strategies to manage potential catastrophic AI-related incidents and the ensuing public and political backlash, according to industry sources. The "day after" planning assumes a major incident—most likely a sophisticated cyberattack disabling financial systems, internet infrastructure, water supplies, and power grids—is inevitable and could occur within the next 6 to 12 months.