India on Alert as Anthropic’s Mythos AI Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concerns

In the wake of rising global anxiety over artificial intelligence-driven cyber threats, India has stepped up its vigilance, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman convening a high-level meeting with banks and technology stakeholders to assess potential risks to the financial system. The review comes amid international scrutiny of Claude Mythos, a powerful AI system developed by Anthropic, which experts warn could redefine the scale and speed of cyberattacks.

At the meeting, attended by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the government highlighted the emerging risks posed by advanced AI models , particularly their ability to identify and weaponise software vulnerabilities . Banks were directed to take immediate pre-emptive measures , including strengthening IT systems, enhancing monitoring frameworks, and ensuring robust protection of customer data and financial resources.

Officials noted that Mythos represents a significant technological shift. The model is capable of autonomously scanning complex digital systems, detecting thousands of previously unknown vulnerabilities , and even exploiting them with minimal human intervention. Reports indicate that it has uncovered flaws in major operating systems and web browsers, including decades-old weaknesses, raising fears that cyber threats could become faster, more scalable, and increasingly difficult to contain .

To counter these risks, the government has called for the establishment of a real-time threat intelligence-sharing mechanism linking banks, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, and other relevant agencies. The Indian Banks' Association has been tasked with developing a coordinated institutional response framework to enable swift action against AI-driven cyber threats.

The Mythos model has also intensified concerns due to its dual-use nature . While it holds the potential to strengthen cybersecurity by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities, it can equally be misused to automate hacking, ransomware campaigns, and digital espionage. This has sparked a broader global debate on regulating advanced AI systems that blur the line between defensive tools and offensive cyber capabilities.

Anthropic has so far refrained from releasing Mythos to the public, citing the risks associated with its capabilities. Instead, access has been restricted to select organisations under controlled conditions for defensive cybersecurity purposes. However, reports of unauthorised access to the model have further heightened concerns about the security of such high-risk technologies.

Despite the global alarm, officials from the Reserve Bank of India and the finance ministry have stated that India’s financial systems remain secure , with continuous monitoring and risk assessment underway. At the same time, they have underscored that the evolving nature of AI-driven threats demands heightened vigilance, stronger coordination, and sustained investment in cybersecurity infrastructure .

The unfolding developments around Anthropic’s Mythos signal a critical moment in the evolution of global cybersecurity. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable, it is reshaping not only how systems are protected, but also how they can be attacked forcing governments and institutions worldwide to rethink their preparedness in an era of machine-driven cyber risk.