SherLOCK Joins the Financial Data Utilization Promotion Association (FDUA) as a Special Member

SherLOCK Inc. announces its membership in the Financial Data Utilization Promotion Association (FDUA) as a Special Member.

While the implementation of generative AI in the financial industry is rapidly progressing, the reality of AI itself becoming a new attack vector has emerged. AI security is no longer a preparation for the future, but a management challenge that Japanese companies must face immediately. By providing advanced professional expertise in AI vulnerability countermeasures and reliability assurance, we will consistently support the control of security risks required in the era of AI-versus-AI, and contribute to the implementation of high-level AI governance.

Background and Objectives
In April 2026, Anthropic's latest model, "Claude Mythos," which began limited availability to select organizations, demonstrated the ability to autonomously discover and sequentially exploit unknown vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers, bringing structural changes to the global cybersecurity environment. The IMF has sounded the alarm that "if AI attack capabilities surpass defensive capabilities, it could undermine the stability of financial systems," and the sense of crisis in the financial sector is rapidly increasing, with organizations like the Japan Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan launching joint task forces.

However, in a new threat environment where the discovery and exploitation of vulnerabilities proceed at machine speed, hesitating to use AI due to concerns about security or safety leads to the greatest opportunity loss in an era where AI dictates the root of corporate competitiveness. What is needed now is neither "excessive caution" nor "unguarded adoption," but AI security measures that evaluate and control AI risks to enable proactive use, supported by higher-level AI governance.

Through extensive experience in AI red teaming tests (verification via simulated attacks), guardrail implementation, and support for building high-level AI governance in cooperation with large enterprises, we have demonstrated that "robust security is the proactive infrastructure that maximizes AI adoption." Through this membership, we aim to return our cutting-edge AI security expertise to the FDUA community and build a next-generation financial ecosystem where financial institutions can implement state-of-the-art technologies without fear of risk.

Comment from CEO Teresa Tsukiji
"In 2026, AI has evolved from an entity that provides answers into an executing agent that carries out practical business tasks. Now that AI autonomously handles payments and contracts, its vulnerabilities translate directly into risks that can shake the foundation of business management. Modern attacks have shifted from system intrusions to methods that manipulate the AI's own decision-making processes. Facing these new levels of risk, hesitating to adopt AI due to security or safety concerns could be the greatest opportunity loss for financial institutions. By joining the FDUA, we will work with everyone in the industry to promote the implementation of AI security foundations and higher-level AI governance to truly accelerate business."