Industry that built the problem offers to sell you the solution

A group of over 100 major tech and information security companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, Cloudflare, CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, AWS, IBM, Oracle and Cisco, have united to address the growing threat of AI-enabled cyber attacks. The open letter, signed by these companies, warns that current cybersecurity measures are insufficient to combat increasingly sophisticated AI attacks.

These attacks could become more widespread and sophisticated in the coming months as AI models become more capable. Critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water treatment plants and internet infrastructure are identified as particularly vulnerable. The letter suggests using AI to enhance cybersecurity defenses, with smaller models handling security tasks at scale and larger models reserved for more challenging problems.

Companies are encouraged to provide resources, training and support to help critical infrastructure operators deploy AI-powered defenses. Governments are advised to fund cybersecurity for essential services, expand trusted-access programs and provide access to defensive AI for hospitals, water utilities and local governments. The companies developing frontier models are asked to provide responsible model access, significant funding, training and support, particularly to under-resourced critical infrastructure operators.

However, the letter does not include specific figures for the significant funding or any deadlines and firm commitments from the signing companies. The industry appears to be moving quickly to address this looming AI security problem, despite having previously profited from the status quo.