Anthropic is set to brief the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the global finance watchdog, on the implications of its Claude Mythos AI model, whose potential threat to cyber defences has alarmed experts. The US startup will discuss Mythos with the FSB, which is chaired by the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey.
Model Not Released Publicly
Anthropic has declined to release Mythos publicly after announcing that the AI model possessed advanced capabilities in highlighting previously unknown flaws in IT systems, which could be exploited by hackers. Instead, the company has granted access to Mythos to a select group of tech companies and banks, including Apple and JP Morgan, to help them identify any weaknesses the AI might uncover.
FSB Engagement
An FSB spokesperson confirmed the plan, stating that the body “welcomes engagement with Anthropic and other firms on emerging and frontier risks to global stability.” The FSB monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system, comprising officials from leading economies such as the US, the UK, Australia, and China.
UK AI Security Institute Assessment
The UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI), which evaluates advanced AI models, issued an updated appraisal of Mythos last week after scrutinising the version released to banks and tech companies. It noted that the latest iteration represented a “notable capability jump” even compared to the preview version tested the previous month. The AISI reported that the latest version of Mythos completed a previously unsolved cybersecurity test, called “cooling tower”, in three out of 10 attempts—a first for any model tested by the AISI.
“Frontier AI’s autonomous cyber and software capability is advancing quickly: the length of cyber tasks that frontier models can complete autonomously has doubled on the order of months, not years,” the AISI said. It added that it is developing new, tougher hacking tests to keep track of AI models’ progress.
Expert Views and IMF Warning
This month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that financial stability risks were rising due to “fast-moving” developments in AI and called for a coordinated response. “Cyber risk does not respect borders. As AI capabilities spread across countries, inconsistent oversight could weaken a globally interconnected system,” the IMF said in a blog post.
Last month, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said he was “hyper-aware” of Mythos’s capabilities, while JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon noted that AI had made cyber defence “harder” but could ultimately help companies defend against hackers. Other experts have sought to temper fears, arguing that Mythos represents an evolution rather than a revolution in cyber threats. Cybersecurity experts emphasise that most breaches still stem from well-established risks such as weak authentication and unpatched vulnerabilities.
Regulatory Response
During the City Week conference in London, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) CEO Nikhil Rathi confirmed that AI developments had been a “significant topic of conversation” at the IMF meetings in Washington last month. He noted that Bailey was “engaged” on the issue and that cooperation with US authorities is underway. Rathi pointed to guidance released by UK regulators and the Treasury last week, directing firms to “double down” on “core cyber hygiene.” This includes reviewing legacy systems, having good detection mechanisms, implementing strong governance, planning for recovery, and considering insurance. Rathi added, “Anthropic has acted fairly responsibly in engaging with authorities” internationally on its AI risks.
Anthropic has been approached for comment.
