Anthropic and AI: Towards a Global Cyberwar Economy?

AI and the Emergence of a Cyberwar Economy

Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming the global economic landscape, directing resources towards a cyberwar economy. In this context, data, digital infrastructures, computing capabilities, and skills are becoming strategic elements for defense and attack in cyberspace. States and large corporations play a central role in this dynamic, securing critical systems and developing offensive capabilities. This transformation of the digital realm, once seen merely as a growth lever, is now becoming a space for strategic confrontation.

A Strategic Turning Point with Anthropic

Anthropic, a pioneering company in the field of AI, recently made a significant decision by choosing not to make its AI model Claude Mythos public. This model is capable of autonomously identifying and exploiting thousands of critical vulnerabilities in computer systems. This decision, motivated by global security concerns, underscores the rising intensity of digital conflict, where AI becomes a key player. By refusing to disseminate this technology, Anthropic highlights a difficult reality to ignore: artificial intelligence is pushing societies towards a logic of permanent digital conflict.

Cybersecurity, a National Priority

The World Economic Forum emphasizes the growing importance of cybersecurity, which is now establishing itself as a critical infrastructure of sovereignty. Resources such as data, cybersecurity talent, and computing capabilities are increasingly directed towards defense and attack objectives. This evolution marks a shift where mastery of cyberspace becomes a determining factor in the economic and geopolitical power of states. Cybersecurity is increasingly being integrated into national economic strategies, reflecting a shift towards a cyberwar economy.

AI, an Accelerator of Economic Risks

AI contributes to the acceleration of economic risks, with a majority of organizations identifying AI-related vulnerabilities as a major cyber risk. Attackers are using these technologies to reduce attack times, rendering certain traditional security measures obsolete. The costs of cybercrime are reaching systemic levels globally, amplified by the capabilities of advanced AIs, which can also be repurposed for automated cyber espionage operations. Documented cases show that these AI models can be used to carry out sophisticated attacks, thereby increasing the threats to digital security.

The Stakes of Quantum Computing

Quantum computing represents a critical turning point, with computers expected to break current encryption systems within the next 10 to 20 years, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This prospect fuels the risk of "harvest now, decrypt later," where data collected today could be decrypted in the future. Combined with AIs capable of automatically exploiting vulnerabilities, this evolution could reinforce asymmetries between actors, making cyberwar a pillar of international economic relations. The possibility of a partial breakthrough as early as the 2030s adds urgency to the need to prepare for these technological challenges.

Towards International Regulation

In the face of these challenges, the question is no longer whether to enter a cyberwar economy, but how to frame the rules governing it. Without appropriate international governance, robust standards, and investments in the resilience of systems, this transformation could permanently undermine digital societies. A coordinated approach, integrating AI regulation, innovation, and training, is essential to turn this risk into a lever for collective security. Public and private actors find themselves engaged in a real race against time, seeking to develop effective defense strategies against increasingly rapid and automated threats.