Anthropic employees accuse Trump administration of targeting them

nytimes.com
June 17, 2026
2 min read
57/100
Summary
Anthropic employees expressed confusion and concern over the Trump administration's directive to remove their latest AI models due to national security issues. Executives were informed they had less than 90 minutes to comply with the order.
Key Takeaways
- Anthropic received a directive from the Trump administration to take down its A.I. models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, over national security concerns within 90 minutes.
- Employees at Anthropic expressed confusion and concern regarding the reasons for the government's order and its potential impact on the company's plans to go public.
- Anthropic's leadership is in discussions with the Trump administration to resolve the situation, but no breakthrough has been achieved after multiple meetings.
- The company has committed to ongoing collaboration with government officials regarding the A.I. models.
Coverage & discussions
Hacker News · nytimes.com
Community discussions
Historical count: 5 · 5 saved in sample · Historical sample
Analysis ready
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The discussion highlights a growing awareness among tech employees about the risks of relying on US-based AI technologies, potentially driving innovation in more stable regulatory environments.
- The call for stronger regulation by Anthropic's CEO indicates a proactive approach to ensure AI safety, which could lead to more responsible AI development.
Concerns
- The unpredictability of US regulations creates existential risks for companies relying on American AI models, potentially stifling innovation and competition.
- Concerns about the US government's arbitrary control over AI technologies suggest a troubling trend that could undermine trust in American solutions.
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