The 'Vulnpocalypse': Why experts fear AI could tip the scales toward hackers

Artificial intelligenceThe 'Vulnpocalypse': Why experts fear AI could tip the scales toward hackersAnthropic is withholding its most advanced model over hacking concerns. Experts say it may only be a matter of time before similar tools are widely available.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Dario Amodei, co-founder and chief executive officer of Anthropic, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.Krisztian Bocsi / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 11, 2026, 8:00 AM EDTBy Kevin CollierAs AI grows more capable of identifying software vulnerabilities, experts are increasingly warning of a potential disaster scenario: the so-called “Vulnpocalypse.” Hackers could quickly turbocharge their attacks with AI technology designed to identify holes in cyber defenses, security researchers warn. This week, that scenario started to feel less theoretical.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Anthropic, a leading AI company, announced that it would withhold its latest model, Mythos Preview, from the public, citing unprecedented vulnerability-discovery capabilities that could cause significant damage in the wrong hands. The company is instead sharing the model with a limited group of tech giants and partners to help shore up their defenses.The concern has reached the highest levels of government. In the wake of Anthropic’s announcement about Mythos Preview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened a meeting with major financial institutions this week to discuss “the rapid developments taking place in AI,” an agency spokesperson said.Some theorize that AI could help hackers crash financial systems or lock up hospitals and manufacturing plants. It could help countries like Iran shut down American critical infrastructure. Or it could be used to cause mass system outages affecting travelers or internet users.“We have way more vulnerabilities than mos...