Bloomberg reports that users gained access to Mythos the same day Anthropic announced its limited release.

A private Discord group has reportedly gained unauthorised access to Anthropic’s powerful new AI model Mythos, raising sharp concerns around the company’s ability to keep the model on a short leash.

Mythos, unveiled in a limited launch earlier this month, vastly outperforms other AI models in vulnerability detection and exploitation, according to its creator.

Anthropic has only given access to the model to a closed but growing group of companies and financial institutions, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia and JP Morgan Chase, to test and bolster their cybersecurity.

UK financial institutions are set to start using Mythos this week, while Japan and Canada are in discussions with their biggest banks on Mythos. Bank of Ireland told SiliconRepublic.com that it is keeping the matter under review.

Last week, Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre’s director Richard Browne told an Oireachtas Joint Committee that the technology would be in the hands of bad actors within months.

However, a source has now told Bloomberg that a handful of users gained access to Mythos weeks ago, on the same day Anthropic announced its limited launch. The group has been using Mythos regularly since, but not for malicious purposes, the source added.

“We’re investigating a report claiming unauthorised access to Claude Mythos Preview through one of our third-party vendor environments,” Anthropic told news publications in a statement.

Mythos has sent shocks through the tech industry, which is scrambling to bolster its security systems in light of the powerful AI model. Soon after its launch, US authorities told Wall Street leaders to take the matter seriously.

But not all authorities have taken an equally serious approach, with Deutsche Bank commenting that Germany’s financial institutions are well-prepared for cyber risks posed by the model.

“Naturally everyone is trying to get access, but I think it’s entirely appropriate that this access remains restricted for the time being,” said Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing earlier this week.

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