AI executives simulate disaster scenarios to prepare for public and political backlash

On October 10, 2026, Axios reported that executives from Anthropic, OpenAI, and other AI firms are privately simulating disaster scenarios to prepare for potential public and political backlash. These executives anticipate a major incident, likely a cyberattack, that could disrupt critical infrastructure such as financial services, internet communication, and utilities. The public, already skeptical of AI, would likely intensify its opposition if such an event occurs. OpenAI stated that it conducts comprehensive drills to explore various scenarios, emphasizing that these are not seen as inevitable but rather as preparation for unforeseen events. Dario Amodei and Sam Altman, leaders of Anthropic and OpenAI respectively, are among those facing heightened scrutiny in such a scenario. The industry consensus is that a significant AI-related incident is not only possible but inevitable, prompting proactive measures by leading companies.