In June 2026, the US administration imposed export controls on Anthropic’s Mythos 5 and Fable 5 models due to cybersecurity concerns. Simultaneously, the release of OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 was restricted to vetted partners rather than a public launch.
The government has shifted from deregulation to stricter oversight through executive orders. These measures include disabling access to certain Anthropic models for foreign nationals and limiting the rollout of new OpenAI technology.
Despite these restrictions, the administration maintains that the US must lead in AI development to outpace China. President Trump has framed the technology race as an existential competition.
In early 2026, over 1,100 employees from major AI labs signed the Pacing the Frontier petition, calling for a slowdown in development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have both publicly advocated for more careful pacing and independent safety evaluations.
Anthropic filed IPO paperwork in mid-2026 with a valuation of $965 billion. The company is currently balancing these public market plans with government-imposed export controls and internal pressure to prioritize safety over rapid deployment.
