Champion ethical hacker warns AI tools like Mythos could put her out of business

['Valentina Palmiotti, better known as Chompie, was the most successful individual at the annual Pwn2Own hacking competition in Berlin. She told BBC News that, for now, AI tools were helping her to win "bug bounties" - money given to hackers who spot vulnerabilities in online systems before they can be exploited by cyber-criminals. But she said systems like Mythos were so powerful that even champion hackers like her would soon struggle to compete with them.', 'AI has shaken the cyber-security world, with concerns focussing on Mythos in particular.

Its maker, Anthropic, claims the model has been able to find 1,600 vulnerabilities in hundreds of software programmes. It says that makes Mythos so potentially dangerous that it can only be released to a select few governments and cyber-security institutions. Pwn2Own is run by the ZeroDay Initiative and invites human ethical hackers around the world to find vulnerabilities in specific products.', 'Nearly $1.3m (£970,000) was awarded to hackers this year who collectively discovered 47 brand new hacking methods on various programmes, websites and software.

The flaws have all been reported to grateful companies which are now fixing them before criminals can find the same holes. On day one of the contest, Chompie successfully demonstrated how to hack one system linked to Nvidia - wining $20,000. But she then said she had to enter what she called "zombie hacker mode" to prepare for the next day.', 'Chompie described "zombie hacker mode" as being locked into research and testing for hours fulled by energy drinks and adrenaline, often wearing a black hoodie.

"It\'s not healthy," she laughed, but she insisted it was necessary. This year many champions like Chompie have been using AI to help them while in zombie mode. She said tools like Claude Code are enabled her to work faster for competitions, and in her day job as a security researcher for for IBM X-Force.', 'Her view was that hackers like her were in a "in a sweet spot" where AI was an aid.

But she predicted the tide would turn soon thanks to new models like Claude Mythos and GPT 5.5 Cyber. "I competed in Pwn2Own this year because I thought it might be my last chance," she explained. "That isn\'t to say that I think that there\'s going to be no room for security research or ethical hacking, but I think that a lot of the lower-hanging fruit will start to go away."', 'Orange Tsai, another big winner in Berlin, had a more positive view.

"For me, AI feels more like a really awesome assistant that helps accelerate my research workflow," he said. "During research I usually come up with many interesting ideas, but unfortunately I still need to sleep, so I can\'t test everything one by one. AI can finally help free my hands." He hoped human creativity and intuition would always be able to find vulnerabilities that AI tools missed.']