Three things to watch amid Anthropic’s latest feud with the government

Anthropic released a new AI model named Fable on Tuesday, June 9, following an earlier version called Mythos which the company stated could pose a global cybersecurity threat due to its advanced coding capabilities. The federal government responded on Friday of the same week, declaring Fable a threat to national security and imposing export controls. In response, Anthropic revoked access to both Mythos and Fable hours later. This intervention by the government, prompted by concerns from individuals labeled "doomers" about AI's potential threats, marks a significant development in AI regulation, though its effectiveness as a safety plan is questioned. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reportedly informed government officials about Fable's potential dangers, a notable action given Amazon's investment in Anthropic and its own AI development. The situation raises questions about whether providing access to Fable constitutes "exporting" it under current regulations, and the government's action may face legal challenges. This event is already influencing perceptions, with some indicating a reluctance to depend on American AI companies.