WASHINGTON 20 April 2026 (The Capital Post) – The United States National Security Agency (NSA) is reportedly using an advanced artificial intelligence system developed by Anthropic despite the firm being officially labelled a supply chain risk by the Pentagon.
According to reports, the NSA has adopted the company’s “Mythos Preview” model, with sources indicating that its use has expanded within parts of the defence ecosystem due to its powerful cybersecurity capabilities.
The development comes amid an ongoing dispute between Anthropic and the US Department of Defense, which previously blacklisted the company after disagreements over restrictions on how its AI systems could be deployed, particularly in military and surveillance contexts.
Despite the designation, intelligence officials appear to be prioritising national security needs, as the Mythos model is designed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in software systems at a scale far beyond traditional methods.
Sources said the tool is being used primarily for defensive cybersecurity purposes, helping agencies detect weaknesses in critical infrastructure and digital systems before they can be exploited by adversaries.
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The situation highlights growing tensions within the US government over how to balance AI safety concerns with strategic advantages, especially as competition intensifies globally in advanced artificial intelligence technologies.
Earlier discussions between Anthropic executives and senior US officials suggest ongoing efforts to find common ground, particularly as policymakers weigh the risks of limiting access to cutting-edge AI tools that could provide a technological edge over rivals such as China.
Analysts say the case underscores a broader dilemma facing governments worldwide: whether to restrict powerful AI systems due to ethical and safety concerns, or to deploy them in sensitive areas like national security to maintain strategic superiority.-The Capital Post