Anthropic and OpenAI execs privately simulate: What would public and political backlash look like after a major AI disaster? According to Axios, executives from AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are privately running simulations to predict the potential strong reactions from the public and political circles in the event of a catastrophic AI incident. They believe the most likely scenario would involve a large-scale cyberattack, causing disruptions to financial services, internet connectivity, and even water and electricity supplies. The report cites multiple industry insiders who suggest such major events could occur within the next 6 to 12 months. Preparations are focused on educating U.S. lawmakers about AI to influence legislative directions after such incidents. An OpenAI spokesperson stated that the company conducts drills for various scenarios, "these scenarios are not considered inevitable." Anthropic declined to comment.