Mysten Labs tech chief joins Anthropic to work on AI security
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Sam Blackshear, co-founder and chief technology officer of Mysten Labs, announced he is stepping down to join Anthropic to focus on defensive security research. Blackshear co-founded Mysten Labs, the creator of the Sui blockchain, in September 2021 along with four former Meta executives. Mysten Labs CEO Evan Cheng will take over setting the company's technical vision moving forward. Blackshear will continue advising Mysten and remain involved with the Move Foundation.
Why it matters
Blackshear’s move to Anthropic reflects a growing focus on AI-driven security challenges as AI technologies increasingly identify software vulnerabilities, automate phishing attacks, and accelerate assaults on blockchain infrastructure. His transition signals an industry response to evolving cybersecurity risks where attackers and defenders are competing for advantage.
Key context
Mysten Labs was founded by Blackshear, Cheng, and other former Meta executives in 2021 to develop the Sui blockchain. Blackshear has expressed a preference for hands-on technical work in new problem domains and sees AI security as a critical area for growth. Anthropic, while not detailed in the source, is known for AI research, aligning with his new focus on defense against AI-enabled cyber threats.
Key numbers and entities
Entities mentioned include Sam Blackshear, Evan Cheng, Mysten Labs, Sui blockchain, Anthropic, and the Move Foundation. No numerical data is provided.
What remains unclear
The source does not provide details on Blackshear’s specific role at Anthropic or the exact nature of the defensive security research he will undertake. It also does not specify how his advisory role at Mysten Labs will be structured or affect the company’s operations.