The Trump administration has moved to block foreign governments, companies, and individuals from accessing Anthropic’s most advanced artificial intelligence models, marking a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to treat cutting-edge AI systems as strategic national assets.
The restriction affects Anthropic’s latest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, which the Commerce Department has placed under export controls, according to reports by Axios and statements released by the company. Anthropic said it was directed to suspend access to the models for all foreign nationals, including those located within the United States, citing national security concerns.
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The San Francisco-based AI company said it received little detailed explanation for the order but understood that government officials were concerned about the possibility that the models could be “jailbroken” and used to identify software vulnerabilities. Anthropic said it believes there may be a misunderstanding and is working with officials to restore access.
“The net effect of this order is that we must abruptly disable Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all our customers to ensure compliance,” the company said in a statement. Access to Anthropic’s other AI models remains unaffected.
The move comes amid a broader and increasingly tense relationship between Anthropic and the U.S. government. Earlier this year, disputes emerged over the company’s restrictions on military applications of its AI systems, leading to its designation as a supply-chain risk by the Pentagon. The two sides had recently shown signs of easing tensions ahead of the company’s anticipated public offering.
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Industry observers say the decision could represent a turning point in AI governance. Until now, U.S. export restrictions have largely focused on advanced semiconductors and computing hardware. The Anthropic order signals a shift toward regulating access to powerful AI models themselves.
The restrictions could also affect researchers, developers, and enterprise customers outside the United States who rely on frontier AI systems for cybersecurity, software development, and advanced analytics. The European Commission said it is examining the practical consequences of the decision for users across the bloc.
Anthropic executives are expected to meet with White House officials in Washington as both sides seek a resolution to the dispute.
For the rapidly growing AI industry, the episode highlights a new reality: access to the most capable AI systems may increasingly be governed by national security considerations rather than purely commercial interests.