April 20, 2026
Blacklist or wish list?
NSA is using Anthropic's Mythos despite blacklist
NSA reportedly using ‘blacklisted’ Mythos; commenters: of course they are
TLDR: Axios says the NSA is using Anthropic’s Mythos AI despite a Pentagon risk tag, though Reuters couldn’t verify it. Commenters split between “of course they are,” anger over alleged lawbreaking, and confusion about what “blacklist” even means—highlighting big worries about who controls powerful AI tools and oversight
Internet drama alert: a report from Axios claims the NSA is using Anthropic’s new Mythos AI even after the Pentagon slapped the company with a supply‑chain “risk” label—and the comment section went full popcorn mode. Reuters couldn’t verify, but that didn’t stop the takes. The top vibe? “Duh.” User nialse basically shrugs: if it’s a security risk, the security agency should know it. Realpolitik fans chimed in with the classic: the government always gets the “shiny tool” it wants.
But there’s spicy pushback. One camp is furious, painting the NSA as a serial rule‑breaker and seeing this as more proof the watchdog ignores its own rules. Another camp mocks the “blacklist” itself—was it a policy or just a presidential tweet? The semantics turned into memes: “blacklist or wish list?” and “banned but not banned” made the rounds.
Meanwhile, the anxiety crowd remembered why this matters: Mythos is hyped as super strong at coding and acting on its own, which has people worried it could help find and exploit digital weak spots. Add in reports of recent talks between the Trump administration and Anthropic’s CEO and you’ve got a perfect storm: suspicion, sarcasm, and a whole lot of side‑eye. Nothing says internet unity like arguing about a “ban” everyone thinks the government would ignore anyway.
Key Points
- •Axios reported the NSA is using Anthropic’s Mythos Preview AI tool despite a Pentagon supply‑chain risk designation on the company.
- •Axios said the model’s use is expanding within the department; Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
- •Anthropic, the NSA, and the Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
- •The Trump administration and Anthropic’s CEO recently discussed potential collaboration following a dispute with the Pentagon earlier this year over model usage.
- •Experts warn Mythos’s advanced coding and agentic capabilities could enable identification and exploitation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities.