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8 Stocks I’d Buy if I Were Starting a Tech Portfolio From Scratch Today


If I were looking to start a portfolio of tech stocks beginning today, I’d probably focus my initial investments on market leaders that have strong growth runways. With that in mind, let’s look at eight artificial intelligence (AI) stocks that can form the basis of a great tech portfolio.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Nvidia

If you’re starting a tech portfolio from scratch, it’s hard not to start with Nvidia (NVDA 4.14%). The company is the most dominant player in AI infrastructure, and its “acquisition” of Groq and its language processing (LPUs), along with its introduction of NemoClaw, set the company up well as the AI market begins to level off on startups and pivots toward inference and agentic AI. With spending on data infrastructure booming, it remains a top stock to own.

Advanced Micro Devices Stock Quote

Today’s Change

(-7.49%) $-16.50

Current Price

$203.77

2. Advanced Micro Devices

It’s the No. 2 player to Nvidia in the graphics processing units (GPUs) market (which is a reason to invest on its own), but the big reason to own Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 7.49%) here is the company’s position as the leader in the data center central processing unit (CPU) market. CPUs act as the brain of a computer, and demand looks poised to explode higher with the rise of agentic AI. The company should also see its GPU revenue climb following deals with Meta Platforms (META 8.00%) and OpenAI.

3. Broadcom

More and more hyperscalers are looking to supplement GPUs with custom AI chips, which is a big catalyst for Broadcom (AVGO 2.96%). The company is the leader in ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) technology and helped Alphabet (GOOG 3.06%) (GOOG 3.06%) develop its tensor processing units (TPUs). With additional ASIC customers in tow, it is set to see its custom chip revenue skyrocket in the coming years. This also helps feed into its data center networking business, which is also growing briskly.

Broadcom Stock Quote

Today’s Change

(-2.96%) $-9.44

Current Price

$309.37

4. Micron Technology

GPUs and AI ASICs both need to be packaged with high bandwidth memory (HBM) for optimal performance, and Micron Technology (MU 6.93%) is one of the big three makers of this type of memory. The stock is dirt cheap, given the historically boom-bust cycles of the memory market, but with AI, it looks like it may now have a strong secular growth driver behind it. Micron is already starting to sign long-term contracts, which should help give it much better visibility moving forward. This sets the company up for both continued strong growth and valuation multiple expansion.

5. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

With a virtual monopoly on advanced chip manufacturing, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 6.29%) is a must-own for the AI infrastructure boom. Whether it’s GPUs, advanced CPUs, or custom AI ASICs, companies need to hire TSMC to be able to manufacture these chips at scale if they want high yields (few defective chips). The company is expanding to meet surging demand, while it also has strong pricing power.

6. Alphabet

Alphabet is the internet search leader, but it’s become much more than that. It also operates one of the largest cloud computing businesses in the world, and its TPUs help give it a cost advantage with both training AI models and inference. As more customers begin deploying TPUs for their own usage, this adds another revenue stream for the company. At the same time, it is using AI with search to both fuel queries and drive revenue growth. With the most complete AI stack, Alphabet is very well positioned for the future.

Meta Platforms Stock Quote

Today’s Change

(-8.00%) $-47.57

Current Price

$547.32

7. Meta Platforms

Few companies have been as good at applying AI to driving growth in their core businesses as Meta Platforms. The social media and digital advertising giant is using AI to both keep users on its platform longer and to help advertisers better reach and convert potential customers. This is leading to both more ad impressions and higher ad prices. Meanwhile, the better Meta’s recommendation engine and ad tools get, the more it helps drive revenue growth.

8. ServiceNow

While its stock has been caught in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) sell-off, ServiceNow (NOW +0.60%) is an integral part of its customers’ data and workflow, and an important system of record. The company is producing strong 20%-plus growth, and its NowAssist generative AI suite is growing rapidly. Meanwhile, it has a big future growth opportunity with the introduction of its agentic AI orchestration platform AI Control Tower.

Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, and ServiceNow. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Nvidia, ServiceNow, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Target, Get $10 Gift Card with $100 Apple Gift Card Purchase (3/29-4/4)


Target, Get $10 Gift Card with $100 Apple Gift Card Purchase

Target has a new deal on Apple gift cards, running March 29 through April 4, 2026:

  • Get a free $10 Target GiftCard with $100 Apple gift card purchase.
  • Get a free $5 Target GiftCard with $50 Apple gift card purchase.

OFFER LINK

Important Terms

  • Offer available online only.
  • Redemption limit one gift card per guest.
  • Offer excludes items sold & shipped by Target Plus™ 3rd Party Partners and clearance items.
  • Your account will be charged the amount of the qualifying item reduced by a Target discount in an amount equal to the amount of the gift card, and a separate charge for the amount of the gift card will be assessed.
  • Specialty, pre-paid and all gift cards (e.g., Target GiftCards, Target™ Visa®, Mastercard®, or American Express® Gift Card, restaurant, entertainment, lottery cards) cannot be returned or redeemed for cash or credit except where required by law.

Guru’s Wrap-up

A decent deal on Apple gift cards. If you have a Target RedCard you also save an extra 5%.

Primary Wave makes strategic investment in Vietnam’s POPS Music – with plans to ramp up catalog deals in Southeast Asia


Primary Wave Music says it has made a “strategic investment” in POPS Music, a prominent music company based in Vietnam.

POPS claims to be “home to the largest catalog of Vietnamese and Indonesian music”.

Under the terms of the deal, Primary Wave said it will “invest capital in the company and provide additional resources for further Southeast Asian catalog investments to accelerate its IP growth in the region”.

A press release announcing the deal on Thursday (March 26) noted that POPS is “home to a vast catalog of Vietnamese and regional repertoire” and has built “one of the region’s most influential music landscapes” over the past two decades.

Vietnam-headquartered POPS Music was formed as a division of digital media and entertainment network POPS K.K.

The company, which has additional offices and operations in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, says that it manages a portfolio of more than 45,000 recordings.

POPS says it has more than 15 million monthly active users across its music channels. It also says it has “850 million subscribers across all digital platforms, and nearly 67 million monthly active users across owned channels”.

“we are building a two-way bridge for global stardom.”

Esther Nguyen, POPS MUSIC

Esther Nguyen, POPS CEO, describes the partnership with Primary Wave as “a transformative milestone in the evolution of the Southeast Asian music economy.”

“By aligning POPS Music’s unrivaled digital footprint and regional expertise with Primary Wave’s world-class catalog and legendary creative resources, we are building a two-way bridge for global stardom,” said Nguyen.

“We’re thrilled to partner with POPS Music and Esther Nguyen.”

Agnes Kacicki, PRIMARY WAVE

Agnes Kacicki, Primary Wave’s Head of Corporate Development, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with POPS Music and Esther Nguyen.

“Their deep understanding of the Southeast Asian market and strong local relationships make them an ideal partner as we continue to grow our catalog investments globally.”

Larry Mestel’s Primary Wave has built a formidable portfolio of iconic catalog stakes over the past decade, spanning rights in the music of Prince, Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, Stevie Nicks, James Brown, Notorious B.I.G. and, most recently, Britney Spears.

The company, founded by Mestel in 2006, saw its buying power supercharged in 2022 by a $2 billion partnership with Brookfield Asset Management to fund music rights acquisitions.

Just days ago (on Monday, March 23), the company confirmed a definitive agreement to acquire Kobalt, which it described as “one of the world’s premier independent music publishing and technology platforms.” The transaction includes an investment from Brookfield, a strategic partner to Primary Wave.

Elsewhere in Vietnam, other recent investors in the market include Sony Music, which bought a 49% stake in 1Label JSC, the music production and artist management unit of domestic media giant YeaH1 Group.

Following the deal, Sony Music and YeaH1 Group launched a joint venture called SYE Holdings, which debuted a new boy group called UPRIZE.Music Business Worldwide

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The Top Four Housing Markets For Long-Term Growth (And Five Markets Growing Fast Now)


If you want to know if your real estate investment will pay off in the long run, the Geography of Prosperity index might be a good place to start. The index, developed by Motivf and Human Change, ranks America’s 250 largest metro areas, creating a framework for examining how they are likely to fare in the future, going beyond current economic data.

Imagine time travel, replacing Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and his DeLorean with five critical dimensions to depict America’s most “Future Proof” cities: 

  • Population renewal
  • Climate resilience
  • Automation readiness
  • Social cohesion
  • Agile governance

“Leaders were telling us that they didn’t feel like they had the right measures in place for their cities to really understand if they were doing well or not … this project has opened the aperture quite significantly,” one of the index’s creators, Bradley Schurman, said during its launch at this year’s SXSW.  

A Broad Outline

However, for real estate investors, the index serves only as a broad outline and should not be taken as a buying blueprint—because the most prosperous cities, such as New York and Boston, are far too expensive to cash flow.

Rather, the index works best for landlords when combined with data on affordability and rent growth. For this, the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities 2026 is a good companion. The report highlights Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas, as its top metro, citing Walmart’s HQ being based there, noting that it ranks 15th for affordability even though its job market is one of the strongest in the country.

Other smaller metros mentioned in the study are St. George, Utah; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Bend, Oregon; and Pocatello, Idaho, all of which have strong job growth and moderate home prices, giving investors a better chance of cash flow compared to high-priced coastal hubs.

The Midwest Leads Price Growth

home price growth

Widening the lens to include more data, Cotality’s March 2026 Home Price Insight report shows the Midwest leading regional price growth at about 3.56% year over year while maintaining affordability relative to the coasts. High-performing markets include:

  • Illinois (+4.91%)
  • Wisconsin (+4.78%)
  • Nebraska (+4.75%)

In the Northeast, the pricier New Jersey (+5.6%) and Connecticut (+5.26%) markets continue to perform well.

“The current data reveals a ‘two-speed’ housing market,” said Cotality chief economist Dr. Selma Hepp. “While high-cost coastal and Sunbelt regions undergo price corrections, the Midwest and Northeast are proving remarkably resilient due to their relative affordability and stable employment bases.”

For investors concerned about cash flow, amid continued high interest rates, appreciation in these markets might offer some consolation.

“Ultimately, locations with consistent job growth will remain the primary engines for price appreciation, but they also have larger inventory deficits, which are driving pressure on home prices,” Hepp added.

For Investors, the Calculation is Simple

For mom-and-pop landlords looking to add to their portfolios in a challenging market, the calculation is simple: Target areas with moderate home prices, rising rents, and growing local incomes. Merging all three of the aforementioned reports with a smattering of other information yields the following list of investments.

1. Metros Anchored in the Geography of Prosperity Lens

These are places that share the “future-proof” traits and where other data suggests prices remain broadly accessible to small investors.

Columbus, Ohio

The Prosperity research emphasizes Midwest university cities that are also state capital metros, as they combine human capital, population inflows, and relatively low housing costs. NAR’s 2026 outlook mentions Columbus as a market with “outsized” growth potential, supported by universities and a diversifying job base and still-moderate prices compared to coastal cities.

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana

Indianapolis is already an investor hot spot. In an economy shaped by automation and supply chain logistics, mid-continent metros are having their moment, according to Prosperity research. Bank of America identified Indianapolis as the fastest-growing U.S. metro, while NAR names Indianapolis as one of the Midwest markets expected to outperform thanks to affordability (many properties trade in the sub-$350,000 bracket) and regional connectivity.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This former steel town has successfully shifted from heavy industry to “Eds and meds” and tech. Homes here are still affordable, and the job base is increasingly future-proof.

Rochester, New York

Upstate New York metros are suddenly on the real estate investment radar thanks to strong institutions (the University of Rochester is highly regarded), manufacturing, and tech.

2. Metros Anchored in Milken’s 2026 “Best-Performing Cities”

Ranked for jobs and affordability, these cities have proven to be resilient in a cooling economy.

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas

Robust construction here has helped to keep property prices down, giving small investors a better chance of finding cash flow deals, while the allure of Walmart’s corporate HQ keeps a robust job market anchored there.

Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn said in a statement:

“In Fayetteville, we are intentional about investing in what makes our city thrive. We are focused on infrastructure, public services, vibrant public spaces, and innovative business development. This recognition highlights a community that believes in strategic investment, data-informed planning for growth, and opportunity for all, while contributing to the strength of Northwest Arkansas as a whole.”

Huntsville, Alabama

Job growth in aerospace, defense, and tech is a major employment driver here, which, coupled with relatively affordable housing stock, makes it a strong cash flow contender in the sub-$350,000 range.

Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina

This is a top-five Milken large metro, with a port, manufacturing, and tourism driving job growth. While prices have risen, there is still a mid-priced sweet spot where investors can operate.

Boise City, Idaho

A tech, healthcare, and construction-fueled boom has added nearly 50,000 new jobs in four years. House prices are still considerably lower than in West Coast tech hubs, and according to numerous local real estate sites, there are still areas here where investing below $350,000 makes sense.

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Milken’s No. 2 small metro, with robust job and wage growth and housing affordability, makes this a great place to invest.

“This recognition highlights the consistent efforts of our community, businesses, and workforce to create an environment where opportunity and innovation can thrive,” Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw said in a statement.

3. Metros Cross-Checked with Cotality/Realtor.com for Price and Growth (With an Under-$350K Focus)

Toledo, Ohio

Ranked as one of Realtor.com’s top cities for growth in 2026, Toledo homes are modestly priced, with a median home price considerably below $200,000 and strong projected growth; this checks every investment box.

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin

High demand and affordability make Milwaukee a top housing market, but it comes with a caveat. The housing shortage makes Milwaukee one of the toughest rental markets in the US. If you can buy an investment here, you’ll have no trouble renting it.

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan

Named the No. 1 city on the rise by LinkedIn News, a growing tech and insurance industry is drawing young professionals with median home prices below $350,000; there are pockets here that make investment sense.

Hartford, Connecticut

Realtor.com‘s No. 1 Top Housing Market for 2026, with a combined sales-and-price growth forecast of around 17.1% and a median list price below its coastal neighbors, means cash flow is a real possibility here and in surrounding markets.

New Haven-Milford, Connecticut

Benefitting from spillover from New York and coastal New England, New Haven has long been a challenging market for investors due to crime and corruption, but recent crime statistics show it is down. The relatively lower cost of housing here has made this a favorite hub for investors who don’t mind operating in a more labor-intensive property management market.

Final Thoughts

These various indices resoundingly tell us one thing: Investing in residential real estate is still a viable undertaking in America. There are numerous affordable markets where business is booming, and residents are flocking for jobs and opportunities. The spanner in the works continues to be interest rates, which, until the war in Iran broke out, had dropped below 6%. Hopefully, that will continue to be the case once it ends.

In the meantime, as the prosperity index shows, real estate will continue to appreciate, and tenant demand will at least be able to cover the mortgage payments, even if they don’t cash flow by much at the moment. 

The overriding message from these reports is simple: Keep the faith.

13 Retailers That Want to Buy Your Clutter (Including Costco)


You know the golden rule of decluttering: If you haven’t worn or used it in a full year, it’s time to let go.

Of course, selling such things isn’t always that easy. There are items around your house that have sentimental value, but there also are things that were such a splurge, you can’t stand the thought of throwing away money. So don’t.

Many retailers will buy used items from you, allowing you to recoup some of their cost.

The following buyers will give you cash or store credit for your clutter — from jackets and golf clubs to books and electronics. Whether your clutter fills a large room or a small shelf, there’s likely a product buy-back solution for you. (But if you don’t see one below, try “8 Retailers That Will Reward You for Recycling.”)

1. Amazon

Many see Amazon as the best place to sell stuff online. Categories that are eligible for the Amazon Trade-In program include:

  • Amazon devices
  • Cellphones
  • Streaming media players
  • Home security devices
  • Wireless routers
  • Gaming items

Visit the Amazon Trade-In program webpage and click on the type of item you want to trade in to find out how much Amazon would give you for it.

If you proceed with the trade-in, Amazon will pay you via an Amazon gift card. In some cases, you will receive instant payment. In other cases, Amazon will give you the gift card after it receives and appraises your item.

Unless you live near an Amazon drop-off location that accepts trade-ins, you will have to pack up and ship your items to Amazon to trade them in, but there are no fees. Amazon will give you a prepaid shipping label.

2. Apple

Through the Apple Trade In program, you can swap an old Apple device for a discount on a new one. Or, if you’re not ready to buy a new device, you will receive an Apple gift card.

Items that are eligible for the program include:

  • iPhones
  • Apple Watches
  • iPads
  • Mac computers
  • Android phones

You can arrange your trade-in online and then ship the device to Apple, or you can trade it in at an Apple store.

3. AT&T

Turn in old wireless devices through AT&T’s trade-in program, and AT&T will give you either a discount on a new smartphone or a promotion card worth the value of the device you traded in. You can put the promotion card’s value toward your AT&T bill or devices and accessories, either in company-owned retail stores or online.

To get started, search for the device you want to trade in on AT&T’s website.

4. Best Buy

Ready for the next iPhone? The Best Buy Trade-In program will take your old one. In fact, Best Buy accepts a variety of electronics, including:

  • iPhones
  • iPads
  • Gaming hardware
  • PC laptops
  • Samsung mobile devices
  • Microsoft Surface devices
  • Apple notebooks
  • Digital SLR cameras
  • Streaming media players
  • Smartwatches
  • Activity trackers
  • Headphones
  • AirPods

Visit the Best Buy Trade-In program webpage and check out the “Estimate your trade-in value” section to gauge what your item is worth. Then, turn it in for a Best Buy gift card at a participating store.

5. GameStop

GameStop accepts several kinds of items, including the following:

  • Video games
  • Gaming systems
  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • Wearable technology

Turn in devices at a local GameStop location and choose cash or store credit.

6. Half Price Books

Sometimes, it pays to hold on to things so you can sell them later. Half Price Books buys all sorts of:

  • Books
  • Music
  • Magazines
  • Movies
  • Comics
  • Collectibles
  • Games
  • Electronics
  • Lego

You can sell your merchandise at a store — but not an outlet location. Half Price Books will give you cash.

7. Levi’s

The Levi’s SecondHand program resells Levi’s denim that has “been broken in and made better by time.”

If you have Levi’s jeans and jackets that you no longer wear but that are in good condition, you can trade them in for anywhere from $5 to $35 apiece, depending on their age, condition and original retail price. To learn more about how trade-in works, visit Levi’s SecondHand FAQ page.

8. Lululemon Athletica

If you have Lululemon gear that is in good condition but that you no longer wear, the retailer will take back many types of items through its Like New program. Bring your gear to a participating store, and you’ll receive a Lululemon e-gift card for eligible items. The e-gift card is valid in stores and online.

Specifically, Lululemon offers:

  • $5 for all shorts and skirts
  • $5 for men’s short sleeve and long sleeve shirts
  • $10 for all hoodies, sweatshirts, sweaters, pants, crops, leggings, dresses (including define jackets)
  • $10 for all large bags (backpacks, duffles and totes larger than 10L)

The Like New program is available at all of Lululemon’s U.S. stores except for outlets. Stores in Canada do not accept trade-ins yet.

9. Patagonia

Patagonia is so dedicated to reducing waste that the outdoor-gear retailer created Worn Wear. This is where you can shop for gently used Patagonia clothing and luggage or trade in your own Patagonia clothing and luggage for credit. Trade-ins are accepted at Patagonia stores and by mail.

You can use the credit at Patagonia stores, Patagonia.com and WornWear.com.

10. Staples

Through Staples’ tech trade-in program, you get store credit. Eligible trade-in items include:

  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • Laptops

You can visit a Staples store to make the swap or do everything online. If you choose the latter, Staples will provide a free shipping label so you can send the retailer the used item.

11. TGW

Golfers, take note: TGW (The Golf Warehouse) takes old clubs.

TGW’s online trade-in process includes free shipping. Once your trade-in is received, TGW will send you a digital gift card.

12. Walmart

Gadget to Gift Cards is Walmart’s trade-in program for used electronics, including:

  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • Game consoles
  • Voice speakers
  • Laptops
  • Wearables

First, visit the Gadget to Gift Cards webpage to find out how much your device is worth. You then can ship it with a prepaid shipping label. Once the trade-in is approved, Walmart will give you the value of your device on a Walmart e-gift card.

13. Costco

Costco offers a trade-in program powered by Phobio. Enter the details of your electronic device and get an instant quote. If you decide to trade it in, you’ll be provided a shipping label or box to send in the device.

Once received, it will be inspected, its data will be erased, and you’ll receive either a physical or digital Costco Shop Card with the trade-in value loaded on it.

The following devices can all be traded in through the program:

  • Phones
  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Smartwatches
  • Desktops
  • Displays
  • Media players

Check the Costco website to see which products you can trade in, including items from popular brands such as Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola and Lenovo.

How Successful Retailers Prosper in Tough Times


Life has been challenging for U.S. retail chains over the past decade. The Covid-19 pandemic forced widespread store closures, long-standing supply sources became uncertain, and customers’ buying habits changed rapidly, with online retail sales growing from 7.4% of total retail sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 to 16.4% in third quarter of 2025. In the last few years several major retailers declared bankruptcy, including Bargain Hunt, Big Lots, The Container Store, Eddie Bauer, Forever21, Francesca’s, Joann Fabrics, Party City, Rite Aid, and Saks Global.



Citi Sends Out Survey For Citi Strata Premier Changes ($195 Annual Fee & More Benefits)


Citi has sent out a survey to some Citi Strata Premier cardholders regarding potential changes to the card. Each survey seemed to have slight variations but the main point was an increase to a $195 annual fee (up from $95) and increased benefits. 

Version Y of the card offered the following:

  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 10x Points: On Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions when booked through Citi Travel
    • 4x Points: On Flights when booked through Citi Travel
    • 4x Points: On Restaurants during “Citi Nights” (Friday & Saturday, 6 PM – 6 AM ET), up to $25,000 in spending annually
    • 2x Points: On Restaurants at all other times
    • 3x Points: On Flights & Hotels when booked directly with the airline or hotel
    • 3x Points: On Select Transit such as car rentals, ferries, commuter railways subways, taxis/limousines/car services, passenger railways, bridge and road tolls, parking lots/garages, bus lines
    • 2x Points: At Supermarkets
    • 2x Points: At Gas & EV Charging Stations
    • 1x Point: On all other purchases
  • Statement credits
    • $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit every four years
    • $100 splurge credit 
    • Two complimentary airport lounge passes
    • Hotel credit:
      • Receive a $150 credit for hotel bookings on Citi Travel (2 nights minimum & $75 semi-annually) OR
      • $200 credit for hotels on The Reserve Collection bookings on Citi Travel (2 nights minimum & $100 semi-annually)
    • Dining credit: Receive a $100 credit, applied at checkout, at select restaurants ($50 semi-annually)
  • 300 bonus points when you make 5 or more digital wallet purchases each month 
  • When booking eligible partner hotels via Citi Travel, receive daily breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi, and up to $100 experience credit

Our Verdict

These surveys don’t guarantee changes will be made, but it’s a good guide that they are at very least being seriously considered. $100 Splurge credit basically covers the new annual fee increase, although I didn’t think the card was worth considering before. Dining credits & hotel credits will be useful for some, dining credit would depend on where available. Also earning rates dropped for dining/supermarkets. Again there are many variations of the changes being considered, if you received this survey please share in the comments below.

We will add this to our post on: New Credit Cards For 2026 (Launched, Announced & Rumored)

Hat tip to Ok_Rate_1752

 

Exclusive: Anthropic ‘Mythos’ AI model representing ‘step change’ in power revealed in data leak



AI company Anthropic is developing and has begun testing with early access customers a new AI model more capable than any it has released previously, the company said, following a data leak that revealed the model’s existence. 

An Anthropic spokesperson said the new model represented “a step change” in AI performance and was “the most capable we’ve built to date.” The company said the model is currently being trialed by “early access customers.”

Descriptions of the model were inadvertently stored in a publicly-accessible data cache and were reviewed by Fortune.

A draft blog post that was available in an unsecured and publicly-searchable data store prior to Thursday evening said the new model is called “Claude Mythos” and that the company believes it poses unprecedented cybersecurity risks.

The same cache of unsecured, publicly discoverable documents revealed details of a planned, invite-only CEO summit in Europe that is part of the company’s drive to sell its AI models to large corporate customers. 

The AI lab left the material, including what appeared to be a draft blog post announcing a new model, in an unsecured, public data lake, according to documents separately located and reviewed by Roy Paz, a senior AI security researcher at LayerX Security, a computer and network security company, and Alexandre Pauwels, a cybersecurity researcher at the University of Cambridge. 

In total, there appeared to be close to 3,000 assets linked to Anthropic’s blog that had not been published previously on the company’s news or research sites that were nonetheless publicly-accessible in this data cache, according to Pauwels, who Fortune asked to assess and review the material.

After being informed of the data leak by Fortune on Thursday, Anthropic removed the public’s ability to search the data store and retrieve documents from it.

In a statement provided to Fortune, Anthropic acknowledged that a “human error” in the configuration of its content management system led the draft blog post to being accessible. It described the unpublished material that was left in an unsecured and publicly-searchable data store as “early drafts of content considered for publication.”

As well as referring to Mythos, the draft blog post also discussed a new tier of AI models that it says will be called “Capybara”. In the document, Anthropic says: “’Capybara’ is a new name for a new tier of model: larger and more intelligent than our Opus models—which were, until now, our most powerful.” Capybara and Mythos appear to refer to the same underlying model.

Currently, Anthropic markets each of its models in three different sizes: the largest and most capable model versions are branded Opus, while a slightly faster and cheaper, but less capable, versions are branded Sonnet, and the smallest, cheapest, and fastest are called Haiku. However, in the blog post, Anthropic describes Capybara as a new tier of model that is even larger and more capable than Opus, but also more expensive.

“Compared to our previous best model, Claude Opus 4.6, Capybara gets dramatically higher scores on tests of software coding, academic reasoning, and cybersecurity, among others,” the company said in the blog.

The document also said the company had completed training “Claude Mythos,” which the draft blog post described as “by far the most powerful AI model we’ve ever developed.”

In response to questions about the draft blog post, the company acknowledged training and testing a new model. “We’re developing a general purpose model with meaningful advances in reasoning, coding, and cybersecurity,” an Anthropic spokesperson said. “Given the strength of its capabilities, we’re being deliberate about how we release it. As is standard practice across the industry, we’re working with a small group of early access customers to test the model. We consider this model a step change and the most capable we’ve built to date.”

The document Fortune and the cybersecurity experts reviewed consists of structured data for a webpage, complete with headings and a publication date, suggesting it forms part of a planned product launch. It outlines a cautious rollout strategy for the model, beginning with a small group of early-access users. The draft blog notes that the model is expensive to run and not yet ready for general release.

Significant new cybersecurity risks

The new AI model poses significant cybersecurity risks, according to the leaked document. 

“In preparing to release Claude Capybara, we want to act with extra caution and understand the risks it poses—even beyond what we learn in our own testing. In particular, we want to understand the model’s potential near-term risks in the realm of cybersecurity—and share the results to help cyber defenders prepare,” the document said.

Anthropic appears to be especially worried about the model’s cybersecurity implications, noting that the system is “currently far ahead of any other AI model in cyber capabilities” and “it presages an upcoming wave of models that can exploit vulnerabilities in ways that far outpace the efforts of defenders.” In other words, Anthropic is concerned that hackers could use the model to run large-scale cyberattacks.

The company said in the draft blog that because of this risk, its plan for the model’s release would focus on cyber defenders: “We’re releasing it in early access to organizations, giving them a head start in improving the robustness of their codebases against the impending wave of AI-driven exploits.”

The latest generation of frontier models from both Anthropic and OpenAI have crossed a threshold that the companies say poses new cybersecurity risks. In February, when OpenAI released GPT-5.3-Codex, the company said it was the first model it had classified as “high capability” for cybersecurity-related tasks under its Preparedness Framework—and the first it had directly trained to identify software vulnerabilities. 

Anthropic, meanwhile, navigated similar risks with its Opus 4.6, released the same week. The model demonstrated an ability to surface previously unknown vulnerabilities in production codebases, a capability that the company acknowledged was dual-use, meaning that it could both help hackers as well as help cybersecurity defenders find and close vulnerabilities in code.

The company has also reported that hacking groups, including those linked to the Chinese government, have attempted to exploit Claude in real-world cyberattacks. In one documented case, Anthropic discovered that a Chinese state-sponsored group had already been running a coordinated campaign using Claude Code to infiltrate roughly 30 organizations—including tech companies, financial institutions, and government agencies—before the company detected it. Over the following ten days, Anthropic investigated the full scope of the operation, banned the accounts involved, and notified affected organizations.

An exclusive executive retreat

The leak of not-yet-public information appears to stem from an error on the part of users of the company’s content management system (CMS), which is the software used to publish the company’s public blog, according to cybersecurity professionals. 

Digital assets created using the content management system are set to public by default and typically assigned a publicly accessible URL when uploaded—unless the user explicitly changes a setting so that these assets are kept private. As a result, a large cache of images, PDF files, and audio files seem to have been published erroneously to an unsecured and publicly-accessible URL via the off-the-shelf content management system.

Anthropic acknowledged in a statement to Fortune that “an issue with one of our external CMS tools led to draft content being accessible.” It attributed this issue to “human error.” 

Many of the documents appeared to be discarded or unused assets for past blog posts like images, banners, and logos. However, several appeared to be what were meant to be private or internal documents. For example, one asset has a title that described an employee’s “parental leave.” 

The documents also included a PDF containing information about an upcoming, invite-only retreat for the CEOs of European companies being held in the U.K., and which Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei will attend. Names of the other attendees are not listed, but are described as Europe’s most influential business leaders.

The two-day retreat is described as an “intimate gathering” to engage in “thoughtful conversation” at an 18th-century manor-turned-hotel-and-spa in the English countryside. The document says that attendees will hear from lawmakers and policymakers about how businesses are adopting AI and experience unreleased Claude capabilities.

An Anthropic spokesperson told Fortune the event “is part of an ongoing series of events we’ve hosted over the past year. We look forward to hosting European business leaders to discuss the future of AI.”

The on-again, off-again FinCEN reporting changes: What brokers need to know


But conflict in the courts has put all of this on hold, with cases in two states producing opposite rulings. Now, FinCEN has put the new reporting on hold until it gets sorted out by the courts.

Jay Beitel (pictured top), mortgage attorney and partner at Polunsky Beitel Green, said two courts, one in Texas and the other in Florida, both led by judges appointed by President Donald Trump, came to completely different conclusions.

“The first one was in Florida in February, and the plaintiff was claiming that the real estate reporting regulation that FinCEN implemented and that went into effect on March the first was not properly authorized under the Bank Secrecy Act, and therefore they shouldn’t have to comply with it,” Beitel told Mortgage Professional America. “In Florida, the federal district court held that the rule was within the statutory language that it targets transactions that are suspicious and are relevant to potential violations of law. So essentially, they upheld the rule.”

“Well, 30 days later, in March, there was a case in federal district court in Texas where the plaintiffs essentially claimed the identical issues. And the court said the fact that some bad actors have conducted non-financed real estate transactions does not make such transactions categorically suspicious. So the court in Texas said no, the rule does not fall within the authority of the Bank Secrecy Act, it isn’t authorized to impose such a requirement, and it vacated the rule.”

FinCEN steps in

Typically, rulings within a court circuit only apply within that specific circuit. This could mean that without FinCEN intervention, those in the Florida circuit’s jurisdiction would have to continue this reporting, while those in the Texas one would not. So FinCEN put the new rules on hold until this gets sorted out.