Anthropic Might've Thrown Us Into an AI Cold War

Artificial Intelligence

Anthropic Might've Thrown Us Into an AI Cold War

What’s going on: AI can do more than summarize e-mails, create cartoon versions of your dog Millie, and displace workers. Certain programs could be well on their way into take-over-the-world territory, Brain-style. Anthropic announced this month that it built an AI model it considers “too dangerous” to release widely: Mythos. The company says it can exploit weaknesses in software that runs global banks, governments, and power plants. Naturally, world leaders are worried. There’s already a power imbalance in play — what began as about a dozen companies with access has expanded to 40 more. But it’s still a tight US-dominated circle (though a British government-backed AI security group has access). Mythos gives the US an unprecedented edge on rivals like Russia and China. One pro-Kremlin outlet compared it to a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, the NSA may already be using the model (so much for that “supply chain risk” talk…).

What it means: Anthropic isn’t sharing this widely anytime soon and says it will coordinate next steps with the US government. But the clock is ticking faster than anticipated. An unauthorized group of coders accessed a preview version of Mythos due to surprisingly lax security, per a Bloomberg report. While this group is reportedly interested in “playing around” with new AI models rather than weaponizing them, it underscores the security risks as new models emerge. Anthropic expects similar cyber-capable AI to be out in the wild within 18 months. Silver lining? It could prompt some US companies to beef up their own security. One web browser company said Mythos found 271 vulnerabilities it can now fix.

The News in 5

🗞️ A new study found that investing in national suicide prevention hotlines works and has helped thousands of people.

🗞️ A judge tossed FBI Director Kash Patel’s defamation suit against a former MSNBC contributor, ruling that viewers “would not have taken his statement literally.” As for what the journalist said…

🗞️ One of the most used materials is about to get a lot more expensive. Sorry in advance, if you're planning a kid's birthday party.

🗞️ The Trump administration plans to reclassify weed so it’s in the same substance category as painkillers. They should have done this on 4/20.

🗞️ The budget carrier we all love to poke fun at could be days away from securing a $500 million lifeline from the Trump administration.

Health

A Treatment for One of the Deadliest Cancers Could Be in the Works

What’s going on: Pancreatic cancer has long been one of medicine’s hardest fights — but new experimental treatments are starting to shift the conversation. One of the most advanced is a pill from Revolution Medicines that targets a protein which drives cancer cell growth, and essentially slows how the disease spreads. Another approach involves an mRNA vaccine given after tumor removal that can train the immune system to battle cancer cells on its own. It’s a notable step forward for a disease that’s still notoriously hard to catch early because it often has no symptoms. It remains the third-leading cause of cancer death in the US, with just a 13% five-year survival rate.

What it means: The Food and Drug Administration is fast-tracking the pill, so it could be approved as early as this year. The drug also gained attention after after former US Senator Ben Sasse opened up to The New York Times about his experience taking the drug for his pancreatic cancer. Both treatments could be game-changers — not just for people living with pancreatic cancer and their families, but for those who’ve already lost loved ones to a condition that has long resisted progress. For decades, treatment has barely evolved, but this breakthrough proves the importance of continuing to fight diseases with high mortality rates.

Money

The Investing Gap We Didn't Budget For

What's going on: We know from the widening gender pay gap — and, well, all of history — that society doesn’t exactly set up women on equal financial footing with men. And a new study highlights a slice of the persistent problem: Financial advisers typically give worse investment advice to women clients. Why? They assume women are less “sophisticated” investors than men are (ah yes, the “little-lady” portfolio). The research shows this led advisers to steer women towards more in-house funds, where the bank earned larger fees. Women also received fewer sales-fee rebates. The study examined 27,000 meetings between advisors and clients at a German bank, and also anonymously sent actors to 539 advisors. It also found that both women and men advisors fell into this trap of stereotyping their female clients.

An expensive assumption: The study isn’t exactly uplifting, but it is a reminder of the hurdles women face building wealth in an economy that often underestimates them. Banks could do more to address bias, but, in the meantime, you don't have to wait to prove the stereotypes wrong with your dazzling financial literacy. As expert Farnoosh Torabi told theSkimm, scale up to investing. Start with your 401(k) and then work your way up to individual stocks, keeping them under 5% of your total investments (check out more of her advice here). Always ask these questions before you invest. Meanwhile, build up your knowledge by following books and podcasts about money (though, just like you would an advisor, take any advice with a grain of salt).

Quick Hits

🛒 Costco quietly changed how it packages this popular bakery item, and we’ve never been so excited. Much better than the rotisserie chicken debacle.

🎁 The only thing better than Nikki Glaser's roast of Leonardo DiCaprio is the gift he sent her afterwards.

👶 Aubrey Plaza told Seth Meyers that either he or everyone’s favorite TV dad will have to deliver her baby. OB-GYNs are so last year.

🍦 Häagen-Dazs finally turned this trendy flavor into an ice cream bar. Better late than never.

📸 Kendall Jenner is rumored to be “quietly hanging out” with this actor. He can keep Timothée Chalamet company.

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ The Peabody Awards announce their winners — and have already named Amy Poehler the Career Achievement honoree.

🗓️ The NFL Draft kicks off at 8 pm ET. The Las Vegas Raiders get the first pick, but their reported top prospect will be watching from elsewhere.

🗓️ The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival starts with a stacked lineup including Kings of Leon, Lorde, and Stevie Nicks.

🗓️ Don’t be surprised if the office snack stash gets wiped out — it’s Take Your Child to Work Day.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

The US state considered the best place to achieve the American Dream was also recently named the worst state for retirement. Which state is it?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Molly Longman, Mallory Simon, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.

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