Hosts propose a large-scale vulnerability reward program

Discussing a report that researchers had accessed Anthropic systems, the hosts supported active security testing and bug bounty programs. One proposed substantially increasing rewards for finding vulnerabilities: the conversation referred to payouts in the six- or seven-figure range and floated a possible $10–20 billion scale for a white-hat program. This was a proposal, not an existing program.

The hosts pointed to the potential cost of attacks on critical infrastructure: if the power grid or banking system were disrupted, economic losses could reach billions or hundreds of billions of dollars. One participant drew a hypothetical comparison to a 20% GDP shock from a major internet disruption. They also discussed a hypothetical $20 billion government program that could attract large companies, AI labs, and cybersecurity firms to help secure systems.

At the same time, participants warned that a poorly controlled, mass-participation vulnerability hunt could create risks: inexperienced researchers might mishandle sensitive data, and the program could be misused. A more controlled alternative discussed was restricting participation to large companies and qualified specialists. These were the hosts’ proposals and analysis, not an announcement of an adopted government plan.