Genoa City is on the brink of chaos as Monday’s episode of The Young and the Restless turns everything upside down. In a tense standoff between Victor Newman and Jack Abbott, a high-stakes negotiation over a dangerous AI program unravels into a full-blown digital catastrophe. Victor and Jack’s plan to destroy the AI takes a deadly turn, thanks to a secret alliance between Phyllis and Cain Ashby. Meanwhile, personal dramas intensify, including Nick’s worsening condition after surgery and Holden’s turbulent relationship with Audra. The storm is just beginning—here’s what you need to know.
Victor and Jack’s Deadly Gamble
The episode kicks off with an explosive decision: Jack Abbott offers to trade Matt Clark, the volatile figure who’s rocked his world, in exchange for the destruction of Victor’s dangerous AI program. With the Abbotts on shaky ground and Jabot teetering on the brink of financial ruin, Jack’s main concern is protecting his family’s legacy—and preventing Victor from gaining control over their future. The Abbott family is at war, and Jack’s attempt to outmaneuver Victor feels like his last shot at reclaiming control.
But as Jack prepares to make the deal, a shocking twist reveals that the AI is no longer under their control.
The Betrayal That Will Tear Everything Apart
Cain Ashby and Phyllis Summers have secretly partnered up, embracing their darker, manipulative sides. While Jack and Victor battle for control, Cain pulls the strings behind the scenes. With Phyllis’s hunger for the AI software now aligning with Cain’s own thirst for revenge, their alliance spells disaster for both families. Unbeknownst to Victor and Jack, the AI program has been rigged with a built-in trigger that is now actively sabotaging Newman Enterprises from the inside out. What started as a simple corporate maneuver turns into a digital Trojan horse—decimating everything in its path.
Jack’s Desperate Realization
As the AI sabotage begins to unfold, Jack rushes back to the Abbott mansion to deliver the bad news to Diane. But the impact of the betrayal is more than just financial—it’s deeply personal. Diane is rocked by the truth, realizing that Phyllis and Cain are playing a game far more dangerous than anyone had anticipated. With Jabot already crumbling under the weight of the AI’s influence, the Abbotts face an uncertain future.
Jack and Diane begin to fear that Cain’s motives extend beyond personal vendettas. His connection to Phyllis and his willingness to embrace this new power dynamic suggests a much more ruthless plan: to take over every major business in Genoa City, starting with Jabot.
Nick’s Battle and Holden’s Secrets
Away from the corporate battlefield, tensions run high at the hospital, where Nick Newman’s recovery takes a turn for the worse. After waking up in excruciating pain, Sharon races to find his medical team, leaving her emotionally drained. As Nick’s condition deteriorates, Sharon’s fears deepen—her desire for a break from constant danger is palpable. Meanwhile, Holden and Audra’s relationship continues to evolve into a precarious “friends with caution” dynamic. But Holden’s recent actions, including possibly making a deal to bury a major story, leave Clare suspicious of his true intentions.
Phyllis and Cain: A Dangerous Alliance
Back at Newman Enterprises, the effects of the AI sabotage are being felt everywhere. Victor had underestimated Phyllis’s drive, and now he’s paying the price. Her partnership with Cain Ashby is far from a coincidence—it’s a calculated, vengeful move to destabilize Victor’s empire. As the AI program continues to wreak havoc on Newman Enterprises, Jack realizes the full extent of his mistake: he didn’t just underestimate Phyllis, he underestimated her capacity for revenge.
This newly forged alliance has set the stage for a corporate war like no other. And with both families on the edge of destruction, the fallout will affect everyone, from the boardroom to the bedroom.
The Battle for Genoa City’s Future
As the episode unfolds, the lines between business and personal warfare blur. Victor, once the undisputed king of Genoa City, now finds himself facing an internal collapse. The AI program, originally a tool for control, is now turning against him. Meanwhile, Jack Abbott is forced to confront not only his financial vulnerability but his fractured family, as Kyle grapples with the personal betrayal at the heart of the AI crisis.
With a city divided and power shifting like quicksand beneath them, neither Victor nor Jack can afford to blink first. The question now isn’t just whether they’ll win—but what they’ll lose in the process.
The Calm Before the Storm
The stage is set for a showdown that will redefine the future of both families. With Victor and Jack on opposite sides of a digital war, it’s clear that neither side will walk away unscathed.
The repercussions of this corporate collapse won’t just be financial—they’ll be personal, emotional, and irrevocable. The true test is not who holds the power in Genoa City now, but who will survive the storm that’s about to engulf them all.
Can Jack and Victor survive this AI war without losing their families and legacies, or is the damage already irreversible?