OpenAI, Microsoft Lead 100+ Firms Urging AI Cyber Defense Push

More than 100 technology companies have signed an open letter calling for immediate action to strengthen cyber defenses against AI-enabled attacks, warning that the window to prepare is closing rapidly.

The letter, published Thursday by OpenAI and signed by Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and dozens of others, argues that critical infrastructure — from hospitals to water treatment facilities to internet backbone systems — faces mounting risk as artificial intelligence makes cyberattacks more sophisticated and widespread.

Why it matters

The urgency isn't theoretical. At least 12 U.S. states reported water system breaches earlier this month, forcing some utilities to abandon automated controls. A CrowdStrike report found AI-enabled attacks jumped 89% in 2025 compared to 2024. The coalition's call for coordinated defense comes as both the scale and capability of threats are accelerating faster than most organizations' ability to respond.

What the signatories are asking

The letter outlines specific responsibilities for different stakeholders. Organizations of all types should elevate cyber defense to an immediate leadership priority. Cybersecurity and technology companies need to continuously test new defensive capabilities and lead the response against AI-powered threats.

Governments at every level should provide funding and coordination infrastructure to enable threat intelligence sharing and joint response efforts. The letter specifically calls on leading AI companies to provide responsible model access, funding and training to under-resourced critical infrastructure defenders.

The signatories emphasized that traditional security approaches won't suffice. They advocated for deploying cyber-capable AI systems to accelerate security tasks and for organizations that have successfully defended themselves to share effective tools and information.

Broader industry tensions

The letter arrives amid growing friction around AI development priorities. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates published a nearly 6,000-word essay and gave a New York Times interview Wednesday warning that market incentives are driving AI companies to downplay threats to jobs and society. Gates called addressing AI risks "the world's top priority" and told the Times he doesn't "like saying that innovation may be a net negative, but that's where we are."

Opposition to data centers — the physical infrastructure powering AI systems — has also intensified as a bipartisan concern. While data center operators point to tax revenue benefits, communities are pushing back over environmental impacts and fears about rising costs and reduced livability.

The Trump administration's March National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence took an industry-friendly approach, calling on Congress to prevent state-level AI regulation and providing minimal federal oversight to maintain U.S. competitive advantage. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the companies' letter.

Signatories ranged from banks and software firms to mobility companies including General Motors and Uber. Prophet AI, one signatory, stated the letter "reflects what we see in security operations every week" and addresses specific commitments for companies building agentic AI systems.

These details were first reported by Spectrum Local News.