In a significant development, Anthropic announced it would disable access to its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, in compliance with a government export control order. This directive, aimed at safeguarding national security, prohibits foreign individuals and entities from utilizing these products. The company’s decision follows a letter from the US government, received on a recent Friday evening, which highlighted security concerns regarding the potential risks associated with Anthropic’s models.
The letter outlined that the restrictions apply to any foreign national, regardless of their location, including those employed by Anthropic. To ensure compliance, the company stated that the models would be disabled for all users—a move that underscores the gravity of the government’s directives. However, the specifics of the national security concerns mentioned in the letter were not disclosed.
Munib Bahar, a representative from Anthropic, indicated that the government’s apprehension stemmed from a perceived vulnerability that could allow users to “jailbreak” Fable 5. While acknowledging the potential risk, Anthropic contested the severity of the government’s claims, noting that the issues involved appeared to be limited and centered around known vulnerabilities that could also be addressed by publicly available AI models.
This latest action intensifies a friction-filled relationship between Anthropic and the federal government, particularly in the context of AI safety and national security protocols. Earlier this year, the Pentagon had designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk due to the company’s request for limitations on its AI technology concerning certain defense applications. In response, Anthropic initiated legal proceedings against the Defense Department, and two lawsuits related to this supply chain designation are still active.
While a spokesperson from the White House has not yet commented on the situation, the Pentagon’s chief information officer expressed firm support for prioritizing national security over corporate interests. In a statement posted on a social media platform, the official emphasized the importance of national security, indicating a broader trend of increasing governmental scrutiny over AI technologies that could impact military and critical infrastructure.
Despite the order, Anthropic clarified that access to its other AI models would remain unaffected, allowing continued use of its existing offerings while navigating the challenges posed by this latest federal directive.
