US allies in Europe push for access to Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models

US authorities have barred foreign users from accessing Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models, but the ban hasn't stopped Washington's European allies. They are still pushing for the right to legally use these and other cutting-edge American-made tools.

What exactly did the US restrict

The restriction blocks foreign users from directly accessing two Anthropic models: Fable 5 and Mythos 5. The measure comes from US authorities and fits into Washington's broader policy of controlling exports of advanced AI technology, which it applies to a wide range of countries, including formal US allies.

• The restrictions cover Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models
• The move to restrict access comes from US authorities
• European countries that are geopolitical allies of the US are pushing for access to these and other models
• The issue concerns American-made tools in general, not just Anthropic's products

Why are allies unhappy with the ban?

Formal ally status doesn't automatically grant access to the latest versions of American AI models, and that is exactly what's causing frustration in Europe. Companies and institutions in US-allied countries want to work with the same lineup of tools that American users get, so they don't fall behind in building and deploying AI solutions. The restrictions were originally designed as a barrier against hostile states, but here they also hit countries Washington considers allies, creating political friction within the Western camp itself.

How AI export controls work

In recent years, the US has been building a multi-tier export control system for advanced artificial intelligence. It sorts countries by level of trust and grants each tier a different degree of access to the most powerful models and compute. On paper, the system aims to keep strategic competitors away from the most advanced technology. In practice, it also affects some allies who aren't formally considered a threat but still don't get unconditional access on par with American users.

What options does Europe have?

European countries essentially have two paths. The first is to keep up diplomatic pressure on Washington and push for looser restrictions or a separate access status for allies. The second is to accelerate development of their own AI models and infrastructure, reducing their dependence on decisions made outside the EU. In practice, Europe will apparently pursue both at once: pushing for access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 right now while investing in its own labs and models so that similar restrictions hurt it less in the future.

What this means

The dispute over access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 shows that export controls on advanced AI are no longer purely a matter of US relations with its competitors. Increasingly, they create friction even within the allied camp, where countries must decide whether to accept the restrictions or find their own path in AI development.