Anthropic removed its newest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, worldwide following a directive from the Trump administration [1, 2].
This move marks a significant escalation in U.S. government oversight of artificial intelligence. By enforcing export controls on cutting-edge models, the administration is treating AI software as a strategic national asset, similar to high-end semiconductors, to prevent foreign adversaries from accessing advanced capabilities.
According to reports, the company disabled two models [1] to comply with an export-control directive that bans foreign use of the technology [3, 4]. The directive targeted both Fable 5 and Mythos 5, effectively scrubbing the tools from the global market [2].
Details regarding the timeline of the shutdown vary. Some reports indicate the White House asked Anthropic to suspend the Fable model days after its initial release [5]. Other accounts said that Anthropic was given a 90-minute deadline [6] on Friday to take down the Fable model before the government took further action [6].
The Trump administration has not provided a detailed public justification for the specific timing of the order, but the action aligns with a broader policy of restricting the export of dual-use technologies. Anthropic, based in the U.S., complied with the demand to ensure the models remained unavailable to users outside the country [1, 2].
This intervention highlights the tension between the global nature of AI deployment and national security mandates. While AI companies typically aim for a worldwide user base to improve model training and revenue, they remain subject to U.S. jurisdiction and trade laws [3].
“Anthropic removed its newest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, worldwide”
The forced removal of these models suggests that the U.S. government is moving toward a 'walled garden' approach to AI development. By treating large language models as export-controlled hardware, the administration can prevent geopolitical rivals from leveraging U.S.-made intelligence for military or economic gain, though this may hinder international scientific collaboration and the global growth of U.S. tech firms.
