Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, April 24, 2026, raised serious concerns over emerging cybersecurity risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence systems, particularly Claude Mythos developed by Anthropic. During a high-level meeting held in New Delhi with top bank officials, Sitharaman warned that such AI technologies could potentially be misused to exploit vulnerabilities in banking systems and critical financial infrastructure.
The meeting, attended by senior representatives from major banks and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, focused on assessing the preparedness of India’s financial institutions against advanced cyber threats. The finance ministry highlighted that the threat posed by such AI tools is “unprecedented” and requires heightened vigilance, coordinated action, and proactive security measures across the banking ecosystem.
Claude Mythos is described as one of the most powerful AI models in the cybersecurity domain. According to Anthropic, the system is capable of identifying thousands of software vulnerabilities, including decades-old flaws in operating systems and web browsers that had gone undetected by human experts. Due to its potential misuse, the model has not been released publicly and is currently accessible only to a limited number of global companies, including major tech firms.
However, reports of unauthorised access to the model have raised fresh concerns among governments and institutions worldwide. Experts warn that if such a tool falls into the hands of malicious actors, it could be used to identify and exploit unknown vulnerabilities, potentially enabling large-scale cyberattacks on financial systems, corporations, and government networks.
To counter these risks, Sitharaman has directed banks to implement pre-emptive measures to strengthen their IT infrastructure and safeguard customer data. The Finance Ministry has proposed the creation of a robust framework for real-time threat intelligence sharing among banks, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, and other relevant agencies. This system aims to ensure quick identification and coordinated response to any cyber threats targeting the financial sector.
Additionally, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has been tasked with developing a coordinated institutional mechanism to respond swiftly to emerging cyber risks. Banks have also been advised to collaborate closely with cybersecurity experts and government agencies to enhance their defensive capabilities.
Global concerns over Claude Mythos are also growing, with reports indicating that the United States government has engaged with major financial institutions to assess similar risks. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, authorities in India and abroad are increasingly focusing on balancing innovation with strong safeguards to protect critical systems from potential misuse.
