Anthropic in talks with Trump administration to reverse AI model restrictions

US artificial intelligence firm Anthropic is holding talks with the Trump administration to reverse restrictions imposed on its most advanced AI models, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The restrictions, introduced Friday, bar foreign governments, companies, and individuals from accessing Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models on national security grounds. Anthropic officials traveled to Washington over the weekend to seek a resolution, meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, and others. The company said the government ordered it to suspend access for all foreign nationals, including employees working at the company inside the US.

Expert criticism

The move prompted criticism from cybersecurity executives and researchers, who sent an open letter to the Trump administration calling for the restrictions to be lifted. The signatories argued that Fable 5 and Mythos 5 do not possess unique capabilities unavailable in other advanced AI systems and warned that limiting access could weaken both US leadership in artificial intelligence and cyber defense efforts. They also called for future AI risk assessments to be conducted through a more transparent and scientific process. Anthropic defended the effectiveness of safeguards designed to prevent harmful uses, while the government expressed concern that Fable 5 could potentially be “jailbroken.”

Military tensions

The restrictions come amid broader tensions between Anthropic and the US government over military applications of advanced AI systems. Anthropic has resisted allowing its technology to be used for certain military purposes, citing concerns about surveillance of US citizens and autonomous weapons. The Pentagon later designated the company a procurement-security risk, and President Trump directed federal agencies to halt the use of Anthropic technology.