Anthropic disables its most powerful models after US govt crackdown:Officials feared the advanced AI systems could assist hackers and cyberattacks

Just days after launching one of its most advanced AI models, Anthropic has been forced to hit the brakes. The AI company behind Claude has suspended access to its newly released Fable 5 model and the more powerful Mythos 5 system after receiving a US government order citing national security concerns.
The move has sparked fresh debate about AI safety, government oversight, and the extent of authorities’ control over cutting-edge artificial intelligence. What exactly happened? Anthropic announced it has temporarily disabled access to both Fable 5 and Mythos 5 following a directive from the US government. According to the company, the order prohibits foreign nationals from accessing the two models. The restriction reportedly applies not only to customers outside the United States but also to foreign nationals working within Anthropic itself.
As a result, Anthropic says it had no choice but to suspend access to the models entirely. 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 it received the government letter only three days after publicly launching Fable 5. Why is the US government concerned? While the government has not publicly detailed its concerns, Anthropic believes the issue revolves around a possible method of “jailbreaking” the AI model. In AI terminology, a jailbreak refers to techniques that bypass a model’s built-in safety restrictions and safeguards. US officials reportedly became concerned after claims emerged that the models could potentially be manipulated to assist with cyberattacks or help identify software vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. According to reports, the Trump administration attempted to delay the release of the models before eventually imposing export-control restrictions. Also read: China beats Elon Musk to approve world’s first commercial brain-chip: Know everything about NEO

What are Fable 5 and Mythos 5? Fable 5 and Mythos 5 are among Anthropic’s most advanced AI systems. Fable 5 Fable 5 is a public-facing version of the technology that includes additional safeguards and restrictions designed to limit misuse. Mythos 5 Mythos 5 is a more powerful and less restricted model that has only been made available to select organisations and companies. Anthropic has previously acknowledged that Mythos 5 is exceptionally capable at identifying software vulnerabilities, weaknesses in computer code that could potentially be exploited by hackers.That capability is one reason the model has attracted attention from regulators and security agencies. Anthropic disagrees with the government’s decision Although the company has complied with the order, it has pushed back against the reasoning behind it. Anthropic says it reviewed the alleged jailbreak technique and does not believe the issue justifies pulling the models from users. The company also claims that its internal security teams have not discovered any “universal jailbreak” capable of consistently bypassing the models’ safety systems. We disagree that the finding of a narrow potential jailbreak should be cause for recalling a commercial model deployed to hundreds of millions of people. Anthropic further warned that applying such a standard across the AI industry could severely slow future AI releases. Also read: UK to announce ban on ‘high risk’ social media apps: Govt faces threat of judicial review over law restricting access of under-16s to specific platforms

New export controls introduced According to reports, the US Commerce Department has placed export controls on both models. This means companies will require special licences to export, transfer, or provide access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 outside the United States. Anthropic may also need to seek government approval on a case-by-case basis before providing access to certain users. Failure to comply could result in financial penalties and other legal consequences. A broader clash between Anthropic and the government The latest dispute comes amid growing tensions between Anthropic and the Trump administration. Reports suggest the company has previously resisted government efforts that could have allowed its technology to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous military systems. The disagreement reportedly contributed to the loss of some Pentagon contracts. While neither side has fully detailed the scope of those disputes, the latest restrictions highlight the increasingly complex relationship between AI companies and national security agencies.