Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude model series, has restricted customer access to some of its AI models following a new US government export control directive. The directive, issued by the White House, targets advanced AI systems that could pose national security risks if used by foreign adversaries.
According to reports, the restrictions affect access to Anthropic's latest models, including Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3 Opus, in certain regions. The company stated it is complying with the directive to ensure its technology is not misused. The exact scope of the restrictions and the list of affected countries have not been fully disclosed.
This move comes amid growing tensions between the US and China over AI technology. The Biden administration has been tightening export controls on advanced semiconductors and AI software to prevent China from gaining a military advantage. Anthropic's decision aligns with these broader policy efforts.
The company emphasized that it remains committed to responsible AI development and will continue to work with regulators to balance innovation with security. Customers in unaffected regions can still access the models as usual.
