Chinese cybersecurity firm 360 Security Technology unveiled two new AI tools aimed at matching the capabilities of the US-developed Mythos system on June 24 at the ISC.AI 2026 conference in Beijing [1, 2, 3].
The tools, branded under the name "Yitian Tulong," include "Tulongfeng," an automatic software vulnerability discovery system described as "China's version of Mythos," and "Yitianzhen," designed for automated cyber defense and incident response [1, 3]. According to 360 founder Zhou Hongyi, Tulongfeng has already identified 3,432 software vulnerabilities during testing [3].
Anthropic, a US AI company, previewed its Mythos system in April 2026. Mythos autonomously detects thousands of software vulnerabilities, greatly speeding up discovery and reducing costs compared to manual methods [1, 2]. However, in June 2026, the US government ordered Anthropic to suspend exports of Mythos preview versions worldwide, citing national security concerns [1].
Zhou described Mythos as a "cyber nuclear weapon" that the US currently holds exclusive control over, a status China cannot accept. He said, "This kind of powerful weapon that can change the landscape of cyber offence and defence cannot be held only by others" and warned that US organizations can scan Chinese systems for vulnerabilities without reciprocity [1, 2]. He called for China’s cybersecurity industry to develop its own "game-changing weapon in cyber warfare that cannot be held solely in the hands of others" [2].
Despite these new AI tools, Zhou acknowledged China’s domestic cybersecurity AI capabilities still lag 20% to 30% behind the US [3]. The launch of Tulongfeng and Yitianzhen reflects Beijing’s push to close this gap amid concerns about "one-way transparency" allowing the US to exploit vulnerabilities in Chinese software while China lacks equivalent scanning tools [1, 3].
The unveiling at ISC.AI 2026 follows the initial preview of Mythos by Anthropic in April and the US export restrictions in June [1, 2]. The development signals a new phase in cyber defense competition using AI-driven tools.
360 Security Technology will continue refining these systems throughout 2026 as China aims to scale its AI cybersecurity defenses in response to US advancements [3].
