The European Central Bank is preparing to question banking institutions about potential risks associated with Anthropic's latest artificial intelligence model, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The AI safety company Anthropic recently developed an advanced model internally referred to as "Mythos," but determined the system posed too significant a risk for public release. The decision to withhold the model reflects growing concerns within the AI industry about the potential dangers of increasingly powerful systems.

The ECB's inquiry appears to be part of broader regulatory scrutiny of AI technologies within the financial sector. Banking regulators worldwide have been examining how financial institutions use AI systems and what safeguards are in place to manage associated risks.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has cited the Mythos situation as evidence of the need for enhanced dialogue between the United States and China on AI development and safety standards. His comments suggest the incident has resonated beyond Anthropic and is influencing broader discussions about international AI governance.

The banking sector's adoption of AI technologies has accelerated in recent years, with institutions using machine learning for everything from fraud detection to customer service. However, regulators have expressed concern about the potential for AI systems to amplify risks or create new vulnerabilities in financial markets.

Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI researchers, has positioned itself as a leader in AI safety research. The company's decision to keep Mythos from public release demonstrates the internal safety protocols that AI companies are developing as their systems become more capable.