Central banks in Australia and New Zealand are closely monitoring the release of Anthropic's advanced AI model, Mythos, due to emerging cybersecurity risks. The model, designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks, has raised concerns after Anthropic reported it uncovered thousands of major vulnerabilities in leading operating systems and web browsers during a preview.
Experts warn that Mythos could identify and exploit unknown vulnerabilities faster than they can be fixed. The Reserve Bank of Australia is engaging with regulators and industry, while the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is coordinating with domestic and international peers.
Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel described the model as a "double-edged sword," capable of both enhancing and undermining digital security. Anthropic has rolled out Mythos through a controlled program, granting access to major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Apple, alongside over 40 other organizations maintaining critical software infrastructure.
Analysts suggest Mythos' advanced coding and autonomous capabilities could accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly impacting sectors like banking with complex, legacy systems.