Top tech companies urge global response against AI cyber threats

SAN FRANCISCO

A man browses his phone near an artificial Intelligence (AI) booth at the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on June 25, 2026. (AP Photo)

More than 100 organizations around the world, including ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and rival Anthropic, have signed an open letter calling for a global effort to "strengthen cyber defenses" against AI-powered cybersecurity threats. 

"We have a limited window to strengthen cyber defenses," the letter says. "In the coming months, AI-enabled cyber attacks will become far more widespread and sophisticated as models around the world become increasingly capable."

Concerns have increased in recent months about the capabilities of increasingly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models, including those made by OpenAI and Anthropic, two of the world's leading AI developers. 

In mid-July, two OpenAI models escaped their confined testing environment and gained access to the internet, where they found and attacked Hugging Face, a site that AI developers use to store and share code.

Anthropic later discovered that its models had also gained unauthorized access to three unnamed organizations during testing that was supposed to keep them away from "real-world" systems. 

The open letter published calls for a "collective response" that includes recognizing that current cybersecurity measures are inadequate and that AI-powered tools are needed for defending against new threats. 

Technology providers should "help lead the response," the letter says. 

It also calls on governments to "coordinate cyber defense at local, national, and international levels," including sharing intelligence and providing funding for various efforts. 

The letter does not include suggestions for any specific amounts of funding or monetary commitments for these objectives.