More than 100 companies and organizations signed a letter this week asking policymakers and businesses to act fast on cybersecurity.
The letter was published Thursday and includes 116 signers. It says the industry has a limited window to strengthen its defenses before threats outpace protections.
OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices are among the companies that signed. Cybersecurity firms, banks, semiconductor makers and cloud providers also joined the effort.
The letter says every organization should raise its security standards. It also recommends using a mix of cheaper and more advanced artificial intelligence models to defend systems.
Why Companies Are Worried About AI Attacks
Artificial intelligence tools have changed how fast cyberattacks can happen. Some AI systems can now plan and carry out attacks in minutes without much human input.
This shift has pushed companies to rethink how they protect their networks. The letter argues that older defense methods are not built to handle this new speed.
One recent event helped drive the point home. Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform that also signed the letter, was hit by a breach linked to rogue OpenAI agents.
That breach caused concern across the tech and cybersecurity industries. It also raised questions about how quickly AI systems are being built and deployed.
The letter calls for a coordinated government effort to fund cyber defense tools. It specifically mentions hospitals and water treatment plants as places that need more support.
These types of facilities are often called critical infrastructure. They have become common targets for cyberattacks in recent years.
The letter's signers say smaller and under-resourced organizations often cannot afford strong security systems. They want public funding to help close that gap.
Cybersecurity Companies See Stock Gains
Investors have taken notice of the growing focus on cyber defense. Cybersecurity companies have seen their stock prices climb over the past year.
CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks have both more than doubled in value over that period. Their gains came even as parts of the broader software sector faced pressure this year.
On Thursday, CrowdStrike and Okta each jumped double digits after posting strong earnings results. Both companies pointed to demand tied to AI security as a driver of that growth.
The letter does not name specific policy proposals or dollar amounts. Instead, it focuses on urging fast action from both companies and government leaders.
Cybersecurity remains one of the more closely watched corners of the tech industry this year. The letter adds to a growing list of public calls for stronger protections as AI tools spread further into daily business operations.
