Anthropic's Mythos model is reportedly powering NSA offensive cyber ops against China and Iran
Quick Answer
Anthropic has deployed engineers at the NSA to tailor its Mythos AI model for offensive cyber operations targeting networks in China and Iran.
Quick Take
This move aligns with Anthropic's policy of restricting AI use for mass surveillance, which only applies to US citizens.
Key Points
- Anthropic's Mythos model is being adapted for NSA cyber operations.
- Engineers from Anthropic are directly stationed at the NSA.
- The model aims to infiltrate networks in China and Iran.
- Anthropic's AI use restrictions apply only to US citizens.
📖 Reader Mode
~1 min read
Jun 5, 2026
The US National Security Agency is using Anthropic's Mythos AI model for offensive cyber operations, the Financial Times reports. Anthropic has placed about half a dozen engineers directly at the NSA to adapt the model and support its use. Mythos could be used to break into networks in China or Iran. Whether Anthropic's engineers are involved in active operations isn't clear.
The move comes while Anthropic is still in a legal fight with the Pentagon. The Department of Defense classified the company as a "supply chain risk" and tried to cut it from contracts because Anthropic wanted to restrict the use of its Claude models for mass surveillance and autonomous drones. The NSA delivery was exempt from that ban. Anthropic likely doesn't see a conflict with its own values: in its demands to the Pentagon, the company always pointed to protecting US citizens from AI threats.
Anthropic recently expanded access to Mythos to 150 organizations across 15 countries. President Trump also signed an executive order for voluntary safety testing of new AI models, which Anthropic viewed favorably.
— Originally published at the-decoder.com
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