Anthropic Takes AI Models Offline After Trump Directive

Government Orders Removal of Advanced AI Systems

Anthropic pulled its newest artificial intelligence models from public access Friday after receiving a directive from the Trump administration to prevent their use by foreign nationals. The company disabled both Fable 5, which launched publicly earlier this week, and Mythos 5, a more advanced system the company had already restricted due to cybersecurity concerns.

The move represents the federal government's most aggressive action to date in controlling access to cutting-edge AI technology through export restrictions.

Why It Matters

This incident reveals the tension between voluntary AI safety frameworks and government enforcement powers. While Trump's recent executive order positioned advanced AI vetting as optional for developers, this directive demonstrates the administration's willingness to mandate compliance without prior notice or detailed justification. The precedent could reshape how AI companies approach international deployment and raises questions about due process in national security determinations affecting commercial technology.

Company Disputes Process

In a statement, Anthropic said it received the government directive Friday afternoon without specification of the underlying national security concerns. The company characterized the situation as a "misunderstanding" and expressed hope for rapid restoration of access to both models.

"We believe the government should have the ability to block unsafe deployments, as part of a statutory process that is transparent, fair, clear, and grounded in technical facts," Anthropic said. "This action does not adhere to those principles."

The Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Recent Executive Order Context

The directive arrives ten days after President Trump signed an executive order establishing a framework for federal vetting of advanced AI systems' national security risks. Under that order, the government could review the most sophisticated AI models for up to one month before public release, though participation by AI developers was described as voluntary.

The gap between the voluntary language in the executive order and Friday's mandatory directive highlights uncertainty around enforcement mechanisms for AI regulation. Anthropic's public disagreement with the process suggests the administration may face pushback from the AI industry over how these controls are implemented.

Technical Details

Fable 5 represents a limited version of the more powerful Mythos 5 system. Anthropic had already imposed tight access restrictions on Mythos 5 independently, citing cybersecurity risks associated with the model's capabilities. The company's decision to limit Mythos access before government intervention indicates internal recognition of potential dual-use concerns with its most advanced technology.

These details were first reported by the Associated Press.