IMF warns powerful AI tools like Claude Mythos could put global banking system at risk|

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a warning that powerful AI tools, such as Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, pose a serious risk to the stability of the global financial system. The IMF stated that advanced AI models could create 'correlated failures,' potentially disrupting banks, payment systems, and financial markets on a systemic scale by rapidly identifying and exploiting shared vulnerabilities across institutions. The warning follows Anthropic’s controlled release of Claude Mythos, an AI model that uncovered thousands of severe vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers. While the tool is currently being tested by around 40 organizations—including tech giants Amazon and Microsoft, as well as financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase—its limited rollout has raised concerns about unequal cybersecurity protections globally. The IMF emphasized that cyber threats are no longer isolated incidents but could escalate into macro-financial risks, particularly for emerging economies with weaker digital defenses. Senior IMF officials noted that AI reduces the time and cost needed to exploit vulnerabilities, increasing the likelihood of simultaneous attacks on widely used systems. Anthropic previously cautioned that the fallout from widespread AI-driven cyber threats could severely impact economies, public safety, and national security. The White House has also pushed back on a broader rollout of Mythos due to security concerns, highlighting the need for coordinated global cybersecurity measures. Regulators and governments are now grappling with how rapidly evolving AI tools could reshape cybersecurity risks for banks and critical infrastructure worldwide. The IMF stressed that cyber threats do not respect borders, warning that systemic failures could erode confidence in financial markets and disrupt global financial intermediation.