PTC Web Desk: India has started taking a closer look at a new and highly advanced artificial intelligence model that could pose serious cybersecurity risks.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday organised a high-level meeting with top officials from several banks to assess the possible threats linked to “Claude Mythos,” an AI model developed by Anthropic. The discussion focused on how this technology could impact the country’s financial systems and what steps need to be taken in response.

According to a post shared by the Finance Ministry on X, Nirmala Sitharaman warned that the risks associated with this model are “unprecedented” and require strong vigilance, better preparedness and close coordination among banks and financial institutions. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also present during the meeting.

What is Claude Mythos?

Claude Mythos is said to be the most powerful cybersecurity-focused AI model created so far by Anthropic. The company claims the system is so advanced that it has not been released to the public. It has reportedly identified thousands of security flaws that human experts failed to detect, including vulnerabilities that are nearly three decades old in major operating systems and web browsers.

Anthropic has cautioned that making such a tool widely accessible could be dangerous, as it may allow anyone with basic resources to exploit hidden weaknesses in digital systems. Due to these concerns, access to Mythos has been restricted to about 40 companies, including tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft and Google.

However, reports suggest that an unauthorised group may have already gained access to the model. This has raised fears that it could be misused to carry out cyberattacks by identifying and exploiting unknown vulnerabilities.

Global concern over the model

India is not alone in monitoring the situation. Reports indicate that authorities in the United States have also discussed the issue with major Wall Street banks. At the same time, the White House is believed to be considering using the model within government agencies to strengthen cybersecurity defenses.

India’s response plan

The Indian government is now working on a strategy to deal with such emerging risks. The Finance Ministry is planning to develop a framework that can detect and respond to potential cyber threats linked to advanced AI tools like Mythos.

During the meeting, Nirmala Sitharaman instructed banks to take preventive steps to secure their IT infrastructure and protect customer data. She also emphasised the need for a strong system that allows real-time sharing of threat intelligence among banks, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), and other agencies.

The ministry suggested that such coordination would help identify risks quickly and ensure timely action across the banking sector.

The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has been asked to create a coordinated mechanism that can respond swiftly to cyber threats. Banks have also been advised to work closely with cybersecurity experts to strengthen their systems.

Meanwhile, both the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India are studying how serious the potential risks from Claude Mythos could be for India’s financial sector.

- With inputs from agencies

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