Treasury Secretary Bessent and Fed Chair Powell Convene Top Bank CEOs Over Risks From Anthropic’s New 'Mythos' AI Model

U.S. officials meet with major bank CEOs to discuss cybersecurity threats from Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, a model restricted due to its advanced capabilities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Hill

Emergency Briefing at Treasury Department Targets AI Related Fraud

In a significant escalation of federal oversight regarding artificial intelligence, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell met this week with a group of elite bank executives to address emerging cybersecurity risks. The meeting, held at the Treasury Department, was prompted by the discovery of advanced offensive capabilities in Anthropic’s latest model, Claude Mythos Preview. Officials are reportedly concerned that the model’s reasoning and coding abilities could be weaponized by bad actors to penetrate financial infrastructure. The gathering underscored the government’s urgency in ensuring that the banking sector's defensive protocols evolve as rapidly as the generative models currently entering the market.

Anthropic Restricts 'Mythos' Model Due to Extreme Capability Risks

The meeting coincided with an unusual announcement from Anthropic, stating that it will hold back Claude Mythos Preview from the general public. The company characterized the model’s capabilities as "too advanced" for widespread release, citing specific concerns about how its high level technical skills could be exploited. Anthropic has confirmed it is in ongoing discussions with U.S. government officials regarding the model’s dual nature—possessing both unprecedented defensive utility and dangerous offensive potential. This self imposed restriction marks a pivotal moment in the AI industry, where a leading developer has deemed its own product a potential threat to national economic security.

Major Banking CEOs Gathered in Washington for Security Summit

The meeting included several of the most powerful figures in global finance, many of whom were already in Washington for the Financial Services Forum. Attendees included Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, Ted Pick of Morgan Stanley, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, and Charles Scharf of Wells Fargo. Although JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon was unable to attend, the presence of nearly every other major bank head signals the gravity with which Wall Street is treating AI driven cyber threats. While the banks and the Federal Reserve have declined to comment officially, reports suggest the focus was on a proactive defense strategy to shield the financial system from sophisticated, AI generated attacks.