The Agentic Crisis: An Online Deepfake and AI Crisis Simulation
The Agentic Crisis is a free, 90-minute online simulation where teams manage a deepfake of their CEO, an AI assistant turned against its own customers, and a data-extortion demand, all while the public, the press, and regulators watch.
Free public game days
No technical experience needed
Private editions for your team
Next public game day: November 5th at 1 PM ET
Why this simulation exists
AI has changed what a reputation crisis looks like. A convincing fake video of your leader can reach thousands of people before anyone on your team has confirmed it is fake. AI tools that can send emails or change accounts on their own can be manipulated into working against the people they serve. Most crisis communications plans were written before either was possible.
The Agentic Crisis lets your team practice these decisions under time pressure, with no real-world consequences, and see exactly where their plans and instincts hold up. It is built on Above Promotions’ annual whitepaper on AI and cyber crisis management, The Agentic Crisis: Safeguarding Brand Integrity Against Synthetic Threats.
Who should play
Communications and marketing leaders
PR, communications, and marketing professionals who would be first on the phone when a fake video of their CEO starts spreading.
Nonprofit leaders and boards
Executive directors, development leaders, and board members whose organizations run on public trust and donor confidence.
Government and critical infrastructure
Public information officers, emergency managers, and leaders at agencies, utilities, and hospitals where misinformation affects public safety.
Teams mix players from different sectors and roles on purpose, so IT leaders make communications calls and communicators weigh security trade-offs. Executives, IT and security, legal, HR, and operations leaders are welcome.
How the 90 minutes work
Every team becomes the crisis team of the same fictional organization: Coral Key Community Credit Union, a Tampa Bay institution with 120,000 members and an AI assistant named Kora. Each player takes a role: CEO, communications, IT and security, legal and HR, or operations.
Is it real?
A video of your CEO announcing a breach and layoffs is spreading, and your AI assistant is emailing customers suspicious links. Your CEO is on a plane.
The pressure builds
An extortion group claims to have stolen member data. A reporter’s deadline is two hours away, and a line is forming at a branch.
Restoration
The investigation is in, a second deepfake has appeared, regulators are asking questions, and you need a plan to rebuild trust.
What your team practices
- Deciding how to respond before you can confirm whether content is real
- Weighing the cost of shutting down an AI tool against the risk of leaving it running
- Writing short public statements that are accurate, useful, and consistent
- Choosing a spokesperson people can trust after your leader has been impersonated
- Balancing public trust, operations, and legal obligations when every option has a cost
- Setting up verified channels so your real messages can be told apart from fakes
- Deciding where a human must approve what an AI system does
Every player receives a copy of the whitepaper, and each team gets a Crisis Readiness Scorecard after the game.
Run a private edition for your team
We run The Agentic Crisis privately for communications departments, nonprofit boards, agencies, and leadership teams, with the scenario adapted to your sector and the risks you face. Private editions include a planning call, facilitation by our team, and a written after-action report with recommendations.
Who runs it
The Agentic Crisis is designed and facilitated by the Strategic Insights Center at Above Promotions, a Tampa Bay–based marketing, communications, and technology agency. Our crisis communications work draws on experience supporting government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses.
Above Promotions is a certified DBE, WBENC, and MBE/SBE firm. Our AI governance training includes the CAIWRP AI Governance Certificate, and we publish an annual whitepaper on AI and cyber crisis management.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Agentic Crisis?
The Agentic Crisis is a 90-minute online crisis simulation from Above Promotions. Teams act as the crisis team of a fictional credit union facing a deepfake of its CEO, a manipulated AI customer-service assistant, and a data-extortion demand, and make decisions over three timed rounds.
Do I need cybersecurity or AI experience?
No. The game is about decisions and communication, not technical skills. Each player gets a short role brief before the game, and facilitators guide every round.
Is it free?
Public game days are free. Private editions for a single organization’s team are paid and include a tailored scenario and an after-action report.
What do I need to join?
A computer with a camera, microphone, and a reliable internet connection. You’ll receive a meeting link, your team assignment, and your role brief by email before the game.
Is the scenario based on a real organization?
No. Coral Key Community Credit Union and everyone in the scenario are fictional. The attack patterns are drawn from real risks described in our annual AI and cyber crisis management whitepaper.
Can you run it for our organization?
Yes. We run private editions for communications teams, nonprofit boards, government agencies, and critical-infrastructure organizations, with the scenario adapted to your sector. Contact us to discuss dates and options.
When is the next game day?
Game days are listed on our Events page. Join our newsletter to be notified when the next one opens for registration.
Be first to know about the next game day
Join the Above Promotions newsletter and we’ll let you know when registration opens. You’ll also get our crisis communications and AI insights. Unsubscribe any time.
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