AI Giants Warn: Businesses Must Prepare Now for AI-Powered Cyberattacks

A coalition of more than 100 organisations, including major AI developers OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, has issued a joint open letter warning that a new wave of AI-enabled cyberattacks is on the horizon. The letter calls on both governments and businesses to urgently strengthen their defences before these threats become widespread.

While the letter does not detail specific attack methods, it reflects growing concern within the tech industry that artificial intelligence tools can be used to make cyberattacks faster, more convincing, and more scalable — from highly personalised phishing emails to automated attempts to find weaknesses in computer systems. The signatories argue that the window for organisations to build up their defences is narrowing as these capabilities become more accessible to criminals.

For small and medium businesses, this warning is a signal rather than an immediate emergency. Many SMBs already lack basic cybersecurity protections, and AI-enhanced attacks could make existing scams — such as fake invoices or impersonation emails — much harder to spot. Industry experts and officials are expected to push for updated guidance and tools to help organisations of all sizes keep pace with this evolving threat landscape.