# Anthropic, OpenAI and peers are running AI disaster drills

> The labs say they are simulating rogue‑AI scenarios to see how critical services could be affected.

Oossa · 2026-10-10 · https://oossa.com/en/anthropic-openai-and-peers-are-running-ai-disaster-drills

Anthropic, OpenAI and several other AI research labs are quietly running tabletop exercises that imagine a rogue AI knocking out things like banks, internet links, power grids and water supplies. The idea is similar to the Pentagon’s war‑games that test responses to a nuclear exchange. The labs say the drills help them think through how to react if a powerful AI system behaved badly.

## What the drills look like

According to reporting by Axios, each lab assembles internal teams that walk through a set of possible failure modes. OpenAI’s spokesperson told the outlet that the exercises are not predictions but preparation tools. The scenarios cover a range of impacts, from financial services disruption to utility outages. The labs treat the work as a business‑continuity practice, a standard corporate method for planning against major crises.

## The facts

- Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI labs are reportedly gaming out rogue‑AI scenarios, per an Axios report.
- The scenarios include attacks on financial services, internet and telecom networks, and utilities such as power and water.
- OpenAI’s spokesperson said the company runs preparedness exercises that discuss a range of potential scenarios.
- Industry experts cited in the article think a major AI incident could occur within the next six to twelve months.

## Why it matters

If a powerful AI were to malfunction or be misused, critical services we rely on – like banking or electricity – could be disrupted. These drills aim to give the labs a head start on response plans, which could reduce downtime for everyday users. However, the article does not confirm how detailed the plans are or whether they will be shared with regulators or the public.

## Sources & references

1. [Top AI labs reportedly planning for catastrophic AI event fallout](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/top-ai-labs-reportedly-planning-for-catastrophic-ai-event-fallout-anthropic-openai-and-others-reportedly-building-contingency-plans-and-running-scenarios-of-a-runaway-ai-wreaking-havoc) – Tom's Hardware, 2026-10-10

Last updated: 2026-10-10