Leaders of the G7 discussed a proposal to allow select “trusted partners” access to advanced artificial intelligence models developed by U.S. companies such as Anthropic, according to three diplomatic sources. The plan could provide a mechanism for certain countries to bypass broader restrictions on non-U.S. access to cutting-edge AI technology.
Trump Restrictions Prompt Search for Alternatives
The discussions come after Anthropic on Friday suspended access to its most advanced AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, for all users. The decision followed an order from U.S. President Donald Trump directing the company to restrict foreign nationals’ access to its top-tier AI systems, citing national security concerns.
One of the diplomatic sources said a number of country representatives attending the annual summit of leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations discussed the idea of widening access to advanced AI models with U.S. representatives.
This was mainly with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, on the sidelines of the opening G7 summit dinner on Monday in the French lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains.
The “trusted partners” could be countries or companies, said a second source, who declined to be named because the talks were ongoing.
Strategic Concerns
An agreement providing broader access to advanced models would allow G7 countries to use the models to develop stronger cybersecurity defences against rivals such as China.
A Trump White House official said in a statement that the president’s team has “an open line of communication with our allies, and we remain committed to addressing national security concerns with Anthropic’s model.”
AI executives from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google , which are all developing highly advanced models, are expected to attend a working lunch on Wednesday to speak about technology issues, including regulation, AI infrastructure and networks, Reuters previously reported.
Anthropic’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Cybersecurity experts believe Anthropic’s Mythos, a model designed to find flaws in computer code, may turbocharge attacks on banks’ technology systems. The European Union is seeking access to Mythos to study the model’s implications.
Prior to Trump’s order, Anthropic had given access to Mythos to select organizations in “more than 15 countries” so they could use the product to scan their computer systems for vulnerabilities, according to a company statement.
The organizations included entities in the healthcare, communications, power and water sectors, according to the statement.
The news of the “trusted partners” scheme was first reported by the Financial Times.
(With inputs from Reuters)
