The Federal Reserve lacked access to Anthropic's advanced AI model, Claude Mythos Preview, for at least three months following an extraordinary meeting in April where Fed and Treasury officials warned bank CEOs about the model's potential to pose unprecedented cybersecurity risks to the nation's top financial institutions [1]. Anthropic, the developer of Claude Mythos Preview, released the model to a select group of banks and institutions as part of Project Glasswing, a cybersecurity initiative, enabling these entities to begin patching their vulnerabilities while the Fed remained exposed [1].
The April meeting was convened by then-Fed leader Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, highlighting the urgency of the threat. However, as of July 15, the Fed was still seeking access to Mythos, and it remains unclear whether the central bank has since obtained it [1]. Anthropic did not respond to requests for comment, and the Fed declined to comment for the article [1].
In recent congressional testimony, new Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh stated he was actively working to secure access to Mythos and other advanced AI models, emphasizing the need for broader adoption across the banking system to address vulnerabilities. Warsh noted, "We are not the deciders as to who has access, but I have not been shy in sharing my views with authorities across the government about the vulnerabilities, and have been asking for access not just for the Federal Reserve but for other institutions to a whole range of these new artificial intelligence models so that they can protect themselves" [1]. He further clarified that the Fed's cybersecurity efforts should not be limited to Mythos alone, as multiple new AI models are needed to safeguard the financial system [1].
Warsh has embraced AI as a transformational technology during his tenure, but acknowledged that the work to address vulnerabilities cannot begin without access to Mythos [1].
CONCLUSION
The Federal Reserve's lack of access to Anthropic's Mythos AI model has left it vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, even as other institutions have begun patching their systems. Fed leadership is actively seeking access to Mythos and other advanced AI tools, underscoring the urgency and high market impact of AI-driven cybersecurity risks. The situation highlights a critical gap in the Fed's ability to protect the financial system from emerging threats.