Anthropic recently withdrew its two latest artificial intelligence models from public access and use, following an export control order issued by the Trump administration. This action has ignited extensive discussions regarding AI policy and the concept of digital sovereignty.
On a recent episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Sean O’Kane, Rebecca Bellan, and I delved into the specifics of what prompted the administration’s directive against Anthropic and explored its potential ramifications for the broader AI ecosystem.
As Sean articulated, “Anthropic has not had the best relationship with the Trump administration in a way that stands apart from the other leading AI labs,” suggesting that Anthropic’s competitors might not face similar regulatory scrutiny.
However, Rebecca highlighted that prominent cybersecurity experts have “signed an open letter to ask Trump to revoke the order, and they say it’s actually dangerous to have to pull these advanced cybersecurity capabilities from network defenders in the U.S.”
We also mused whether this controversy could ultimately serve as positive publicity for Anthropic, especially since, in Rebecca’s words, “everybody loves a bad boy.”
Below is an edited preview of our conversation, presented for length and clarity.
Rebecca Bellan explained that the U.S. government compelled Anthropic to take its two newest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, offline. Fable 5 was more broadly available to the public, while Mythos 5 was accessible to existing Mythos users. The order was conveyed in a letter issued last Friday, citing unspecified “national security concerns.” The report detailing these concerns has not been made public, and no specific details were provided, other than instructing Anthropic to ensure the models could not be utilized by foreign nationals. Consequently, Anthropic decided to remove the models entirely, acknowledging the difficulty in identifying foreign nationals, particularly given that many of their own employees are not U.S. citizens.
Reports suggest that the White House was alerted to the situation by Amazon researchers who allegedly discovered a method to bypass Fable 5’s safety guardrails. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reportedly escalated these concerns to the White House, initiating the subsequent chain of events.
Sean O’Kane remarked on the rapid pace of developments, especially for a Friday afternoon leading into a weekend. He also noted the timing coincided with the administration’s ostensible efforts to negotiate a treaty related to the conflict it initiated in Iran.
Rebecca added, with a hint of cynicism, that the timing – Friday evening for those in New York – suggested a deliberate distraction.
Sean reiterated his earlier point, emphasizing Anthropic’s distinctly difficult relationship with the Trump administration compared to other major AI labs, suggesting this factor played a role. He then posed a question regarding the implications for other AI companies: would the Trump administration be less inclined to impose similar restrictions on Anthropic’s rivals?
Anthony Ha provided context, stating that both journalistic reports and analyses from independent security experts indicate that the actual security risk posed by Anthropic is not unique. He posited that much of the escalation appears to stem from a poor relationship between the Trump administration and Anthropic, leading to risks being disproportionately magnified due to their inability to communicate constructively. For other companies, this situation might seem advantageous, as they could avoid conflict by simply not antagonizing the administration. However, this also represents an unstable regulatory environment, where success depends on merely hoping not to incur official displeasure.
Rebecca strongly felt the action was retaliatory. Citing the government’s prior designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk and an ongoing lawsuit, she suggested the White House was actively seeking justifications to target the company. This sentiment is echoed by numerous cybersecurity researchers who argue that the situation should not have warranted an export control order. These experts have signed an open letter urging Trump to revoke the order, asserting that removing such advanced cybersecurity capabilities from U.S. network defenders is actually detrimental. Anthropic itself has claimed that similar vulnerabilities could be found in several other AI models.
From a cynical perspective, one might wonder if the pause on Anthropic’s models is intended to allow competitors to catch up. Conversely, Rebecca noted reactions suggesting Anthropic “had this coming.” Critics point to perceived hypocrisy, where the company states a model is “too dangerous for anyone to use, but not us, we’re the good guys.” She highlighted Anthropic’s inconsistent messaging, advocating for a slowdown in AI development due to its dangers just a week before releasing their “most insane ever, super powerful model.”
Anthony Ha drew a parallel between this situation and the broader discourse surrounding AI. He observed that figures like Sam Altman and Jensen Huang express surprise at public apprehension, despite having spent years promoting AI as a “God machine” capable of displacing jobs. It is, therefore, unsurprising that the public harbors concerns. He noted Anthropic’s specific rhetoric regarding Mythos, describing it as an “incredibly powerful model ever, it’s too dangerous to release to the public.” Anthony concluded that if such claims are taken seriously, they inevitably invite an “incredible level of scrutiny.”
While acknowledging Anthropic’s likely displeasure, Anthony cautioned against overstating potential benefits. However, he referenced past analyses, including from Ramp, which demonstrated that a previous major conflict between Anthropic and the Trump administration, in some ways, proved advantageous for the company. Downloads of Anthropic’s Claude model surged, and many who previously considered ChatGPT as the definitive AI assistant began viewing Claude as a more responsible, or even “resistance,” alternative. In a similar vein, despite current stress for Anthropic, this latest incident could again enhance the perception of their models as exceptionally powerful.
Rebecca wholeheartedly agreed, reinforcing the idea of a “dangerous” allure. “Everyone loves a bad boy, right?” she posited, suggesting that the public might think, “It’s the most powerful model, even Trump says so. Of course, I’ve got to get my hands on it.”
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