Ryan Bridge: The terrifying news about Mythos AI

You heard the news about this AI hacking beast called Mythos? 

It's a bit scary to be honest. And what's reported to have happened with it in the last seven hours is even scarier. 

It's basically a big AI-powered cyber-hacking machine. It can spot flaws in operating systems – in some tests, it is better at doing this than human hackers. 

Central banks are worried. Retail banks are worried. Governments are worried. We should be, too. 

Even Anthropic, which owns it, is worried. They haven't released it to the public. 

In the wrong hands, it's that dangerous. 

But what they did do was release it to a small group of big companies, including Google and Goldman Sachs, for testing. 

The problem? Bloomberg is reporting that a small number of unauthorised users have gained access to it. 

I know... ding ding ding... alarm bell time. 

Hello, you had one job – keep this thing under wraps. If it's a good as they say it is, it's bad for the world. 

It could mean more 'asymmetrical warfare'. That's where smaller actors with fewer resources than big powers are able to wage war and hold the world to ransom. 

Think the Revolutionary Guard and the Strait of Hormuz. 

In the wrong hands, this thing could do the same in cyberspace. 

Hacks on hospitals, water supplies, energy infrastructure. All that important stuff that, you know, keeps society from falling apart. 

What happens to the world when you only need a speedboat, a few drones, and an AI hacking app on your phone to bring the world to its knees? 

This sounds overly dramatic, and that's because, well, it is. 

And like most things on the internet, once the horse is out of the stables, she tends to bolt and run, and nobody can ever really catch up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You heard the news about this AI hacking beast called Mythos.
Is a bit scary, to be honest with you, and
what's reported to have happened with it in the last
seven hours is even scarier. It's basically a big AI
powered cyber hacking machine. It can spot flaws and operating systems,
stuff that we use, email accountcil sorts of stuff. Once
it spots the floors, it could open the back door

(00:20):
for bad people to get in. That's what hacking's about.
In some tests, it is better at doing this than
human hackers. Okay, worrying. Central banks are worried, Retail banks
are worried. Governments are worried, and we should be too.
Even Anthropic, which owns it, is worried. They haven't released
it to the public for this reason. In the wrong hands,

(00:41):
it's that dangerous. But what they did do was release
it to a small little group of companies, including Google,
including Goldman Sacks for testing. Now the problem is Bloomberg
is reporting a small number of unauthorized users have gained
access to it. I know, like ding ding ding ding
alarm belt. Hello, you had one job. Keep this thing

(01:02):
under wraps. If it's as good as they say it is,
then it's bad for the world. It could mean more
of what they call asymmetrical warfare. That's where smaller players
with fewer resources than the big powers are able to
wage war and hold the world to ransom. Think the
Revolution regard their speedboats in the Strait of horll moves

(01:22):
right now in the wrong hands. This thing could do
the same in cyberspace. Hack into hospitals, water, supplies, energy, infrastructure,
all that important stuff that you know keeps society from
falling apart. Quite important. What happens to the world when
you only need a speedboat, a few drones, and you know,
ANDAI hacking app on your phone to bring the world

(01:43):
to its knees. It sounds overly dramatic, doesn't it, And
that's because well it is. And like most things on
the Internet, once the horse is out of the stables,
she tends to bolt and run and no one can
ever really catch up. For more from Early Edition with
Ryan Bridge, listen live to News Talks it'd be from
five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.