US lifts export ban on Anthropic’s AI models:Access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 to return soon after national security restrictions

For nearly three weeks, two of Anthropic’s most advanced AI models were unavailable after the US government stepped in over national security concerns. Now, that restriction has been lifted.
The company says it will begin restoring access to its Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, marking an important moment in how governments are beginning to regulate powerful AI systems. Anthropic to restore Fable 5 and Mythos 5 access AI company Anthropic has announced that it will start bringing back access to its Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models after the US Department of Commerce removed the export restrictions that were imposed earlier this month. The company shared the update through its official X account, confirming that access would begin returning from July 1. Why were the AI models blocked? The export restrictions were introduced on June 12, when the US government asked Anthropic to suspend access to the two AI models over national security concerns. The US has been increasing its oversight of advanced AI systems amid fears that powerful AI models could be misused by military or intelligence organisations in countries such as China and Russia. As a result, Anthropic temporarily disabled access to both Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Also read: Your brain activity can now turn into text without typing: Meta unveils ‘Brain2Qwerty’ AI system that will help patients with neurological disorders

What has changed now?
Even before the restrictions were completely removed, there were signs that the ban would be eased. According to a Reuters report published on June 26, the US government had already planned to allow Anthropic to redeploy Mythos 5 to a limited number of trusted US organisations starting June 28. Now, the Commerce Department has fully lifted the export controls. According to a letter obtained by Reuters, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that companies no longer need an export licence for the Fable and Mythos models. He also explained why the restrictions were removed, saying: Anthropic has agreed to proactively detect and address security risks associated with the models; to work diligently with the US government on protocols and standards for Mythos, Fable and future models; and to inform the US government of any malicious activity. Why this decision is important This is one of the first major cases in which the US government has directly used export control laws to regulate AI models, rather than computer chips or other hardware. The decision suggests that advanced AI systems could increasingly be treated like other sensitive technologies that require government oversight. It also signals that companies developing powerful AI models may need to work more closely with governments before launching new products globally. In the future, meeting security requirements could become an important step before releasing frontier AI models to users around the world. Not everyone agrees with the government’s approach Despite the restrictions being lifted, the government’s growing role in deciding who can access advanced AI models has sparked debate within the industry. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that while thorough safety testing is essential, he is uncomfortable with governments deciding which customers should be allowed to use these models.