India is exploring the use of advanced artificial intelligence to strengthen its cyber-defence capabilities, with the country’s national cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, gaining access to Anthropic’s Claude Mythos model for controlled testing.
The development comes at a time when increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, software vulnerabilities and AI-powered threats are creating new challenges for governments and businesses worldwide.
sAI could change the way cyber threats are detected
Claude Mythos has attracted international attention for its reported ability to identify complex software vulnerabilities, including previously undiscovered security flaws. Such capabilities could prove valuable for cybersecurity professionals, allowing them to detect weaknesses before hackers can exploit them. The technology could also help security teams analyse complicated systems and prioritise vulnerabilities requiring immediate attention.
However, the same capabilities could potentially be misused. An AI system capable of discovering software weaknesses could also lower the technical barriers for malicious actors attempting to exploit them.
This dual-use nature of advanced AI is one of the reasons governments are approaching the technology carefully.
Project Glasswing brings cybersecurity organisations together
Anthropic’s Project Glasswing is an initiative designed to use advanced AI capabilities to improve the security of widely used software and critical digital infrastructure.
Under the initiative, selected organisations receive access to advanced AI capabilities to identify and address software vulnerabilities.
For India, participation offers an opportunity to evaluate how such technology could support national cybersecurity operations and improve the resilience of essential digital services.
One of the major challenges for CERT-In is determining how to use externally developed AI systems without compromising confidential information. Government networks, financial institutions and critical infrastructure operators handle data that cannot be casually shared with third-party platforms.
Consequently, evaluating the model’s effectiveness is only one part of the exercise. Establishing appropriate safeguards for data access, processing and storage will also be essential before any wider adoption.
Implications for India’s digital infrastructure
The development has wider significance as India expands its digital economy and becomes increasingly dependent on interconnected systems.
Banking networks, telecommunications, electricity distribution, government services and digital payment platforms all require strong cybersecurity protection.
AI-assisted vulnerability detection could help organisations identify weaknesses more efficiently. Nevertheless, technology alone cannot guarantee security. Regular security audits, skilled professionals, incident-response mechanisms and robust data-governance practices will remain essential.
CERT-In’s experiments with Mythos reflect a broader shift in the global cybersecurity landscape, where artificial intelligence is emerging as both a potential source of risk and a tool for defence. For India, the priority will be to understand the technology’s practical capabilities, assess its risks and establish safeguards before considering wider deployment.
The larger question is no longer whether AI will influence cybersecurity, but how governments can use increasingly powerful AI systems without creating new vulnerabilities in the process.
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