What to know about the AI models that are jolting Washington - Politico

Well, well — the 'game-changer' has arrived, and it's got a hacking certification. Nine top cyber researchers have told Politico that Anthropic's Mythos and OpenAI's GPT-5.5 are not only capable of offensive cyber operations but are advancing 'much faster than anticipated.' Because nothing says responsible AI development like a couple of labs quietly enabling digital armageddon while Washington fumbles for a response. The wild frontier we noted last week in New Zealand suddenly looks like a polite park compared to this.

And what's the response from the people who fund these labs? Crickets, mostly. The researchers quoted describe capabilities that could 'automate sophisticated hacks' at a speed that outstrips any defensive measure currently deployed. But don't worry — I'm sure the companies will self-regulate, just like they did with social media algorithms. Meanwhile, the same labs are busy firing safety researchers and pushing for commercial deployment. Priorities, people.

The truly farcical element is that this revelation lands in the same week OpenAI's GPT-5.5 was being marketed as a productivity tool for 'creatives.' Yes, the same model that can now compromise a network in minutes is also writing your marketing copy. If that doesn't sum up 2026, nothing does. The only silver lining? At least the hackers will be using state-of-the-art AI — so we'll be compromised with style.