G7 finance leaders have agreed to hold tabletop exercises to prepare for cyberattacks powered by artificial intelligence. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama announced the plan after a meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in Bangkok.
The exercises will simulate AI-driven attacks on financial systems. They will help authorities test how quickly they can detect, contain and recover from such incidents.
Focus on Financial Stability
The move follows a warning from the International Monetary Fund that an AI-enabled attack on a critical financial service could damage public confidence. Policymakers fear that attackers could use AI to speed up intrusions, evade defenses or disrupt banking operations.
G7 finance ministries and central banks will lead the simulations. Private financial institutions may also join, depending on the scenario
Testing Existing Defenses
The drills will assess the effectiveness of current response protocols. Officials will use the results to revise manuals and strengthen procedures for managing AI-related cyber incidents.
The plan reflects a wider shift among regulators from general AI-risk discussions to practical preparedness. Banking authorities want to identify gaps before criminals exploit them. Global banking regulators are stepping up action against AI-related risks. Some warn that cyberattacks on banks or rogue AI agents could threaten financial stability.
The Bank of England is working with banks on deep cyber-recovery options. Its deputy governor said institutions can no longer assume their defenses are immune to AI-enabled attacks.
A Coordinated Response
The G7 exercise programme signals a more coordinated approach to cyber resilience. It aims to improve information-sharing, decision-making and recovery planning across major economies.
For financial institutions, the message is clear: AI is both a defensive tool and a potential weapon. The G7 wants its members ready before an attack tests the system in real time.
Also Read: AstraZeneca and insitro Sign USD 1.5 Billion AI Drug Discovery Partnership