On Thursday, Nirmala Sitharaman convened a high-level meeting with top bank executives to assess potential cybersecurity risks linked to Anthropic’s advanced AI model, Claude Mythos.
The finance ministry, in a post on X, described the threat as “unprecedented”, warning that it demands a high level of vigilance, preparedness and coordination across financial institutions. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also present at the meeting.
What is Claude Mythos?
Claude Mythos is Anthropic’s most advanced AI model, designed with a strong focus on cybersecurity. According to the company, its capabilities are so powerful that it has not been released for public use.
The model has reportedly identified thousands of previously undetected vulnerabilities—including flaws dating back nearly three decades in widely used operating systems and web browsers. Anthropic has cautioned that broad access to such a system could effectively place sophisticated hacking tools in the hands of anyone with basic computing resources.
For now, access has been restricted to a small group of around 40 organisations, including major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft and Google. However, reports suggesting unauthorised access have raised fresh concerns about misuse.
Why are governments concerned?
The concern is straightforward: a system capable of discovering deep, previously unknown vulnerabilities could also be used to exploit them.
Governments beyond India are taking note. Reports suggest US authorities have already engaged with major Wall Street banks, while discussions are ongoing at the White House on deploying such AI tools to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure.
India’s response
Indian authorities are now exploring safeguards to counter potential risks.
During the meeting, Sitharaman urged banks to adopt pre-emptive measures to secure IT systems and protect customer data. The finance ministry also recommended setting up a real-time threat intelligence-sharing mechanism among banks, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and other relevant agencies.
Additionally, the Indian Banks’ Association has been tasked with developing a coordinated institutional framework to respond swiftly to emerging threats. Banks have been advised to work closely with cybersecurity experts to strengthen their defences.
According to a report by The Hindu, the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India are jointly assessing the scale of risk that Mythos could pose to India’s financial system.
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