Europe fears AI blackout as US restricts access to advanced models

Europe is facing a potential "AI blackout" as the United States tightens its grip on advanced artificial intelligence technology. US authorities have instructed Anthropic, a leading AI firm, to grant access to its newest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, exclusively to US citizens.

This directive stems from US export control regulations. Anthropic, unable to technically verify the nationality of all users accessing its services globally, has consequently blocked access worldwide. The company stated it is complying with the government's order but noted the measure is not "transparent, fair, clear, and not based on technical facts."

The situation leaves Europe in a precarious position, lacking a robust independent response to the possibility of the US withholding critical AI technology. This also impacts international companies operating in the US, which now face restrictions on who they can employ to work with sensitive technologies.

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US software companies must due to American export control regulations in certain cases check whether foreign employees are allowed to access certain protected technologies, AI models or source codes.

Malgosia Zegar, a partner at strategy consultancy BCG, explained that US software companies must now assess whether foreign employees can access certain protected technologies, AI models, or source codes. Even an employee's access is considered an "export" to their home country, forcing many companies to implement strict internal barriers.

For powerful AI systems, the line between civilian and military applications is increasingly blurred, making them targets for US regulatory scrutiny as potential dual-use technologies. This complex landscape affects experts like Anton Korinek, an Austrian economist advising Anthropic on the macroeconomic impacts of AI, who is now subject to these restrictions and unable to comment on the dispute due to national security concerns.

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The disruptiveness that artificial intelligence brings will overshadow everything that has come before.