More than 100 technology and other companies are calling for governments and businesses to strengthen cyber defenses as increasingly capable AI models make sophisticated attacks faster and more accessible. The coalition says critical infrastructure, including hospitals and water systems, needs greater protection.
More than 100 technology companies and other organizations have called for a coordinated effort by governments and businesses to strengthen cybersecurity, warning that increasingly capable artificial intelligence systems could drive a new wave of sophisticated cyberattacks.
In a joint letter issued Thursday, companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, IBM, Cloudflare, CrowdStrike, Mastercard and Visa said there is a limited window to strengthen digital defenses before AI enabled attacks become more widespread. Reuters reported the appeal on August 27.
The companies said AI models are becoming increasingly capable of assisting cyberattacks, allowing malicious actors to operate with greater speed and scale. The warning reflects growing concern that AI could lower the technical barriers to carrying out sophisticated attacks against businesses and public institutions.
The coalition urged governments to accelerate programs that give trusted cybersecurity organizations early access to more advanced AI models. Such access, the companies said, could help defenders identify vulnerabilities and develop protections before the technology becomes widely available.
The letter also called on businesses and public sector organizations to make cybersecurity an immediate leadership priority rather than treating it solely as a technical issue.
The companies specifically highlighted organizations and infrastructure that communities depend on, including hospitals, water treatment facilities and the systems supporting internet connectivity. Axios reported that the coalition warned these services could face increasingly sophisticated attacks as AI capabilities become cheaper and more accessible.
Hospitals are particularly sensitive to cyberattacks because disruptions can affect both administrative systems and patient care. The American Hospital Association has described cybersecurity as a major challenge for hospitals and health systems and has encouraged healthcare organizations to incorporate cyber risks into broader governance and continuity planning.
Anthropic said it analyzed 832 accounts associated with malicious cyber activity between March 2025 and March 2026 and found evidence of AI being used across cyberattack techniques. The company said the findings demonstrate how AI is changing the methods used by threat actors.
The emergence of agentic AI, systems capable of carrying out tasks with greater autonomy, adds another layer of concern. Government cybersecurity agencies have warned that these systems can introduce larger attack surfaces and new security risks, particularly when deployed in critical infrastructure.
For companies and governments, the message from the technology industry is increasingly clear: cybersecurity defenses need to advance alongside AI capabilities. The coalition's appeal puts particular emphasis on cooperation between governments, AI developers, cybersecurity firms and organizations operating critical infrastructure.
The companies did not propose a single technology or solution that would eliminate the threat. Instead, they called for faster collaboration, broader access to defensive AI capabilities and greater investment in cybersecurity before more powerful AI tools become widely accessible to attackers.
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