AI export controls: Carney warns reliance on US providers after Anthropic limits

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says US export controls limiting access to Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 show the risks of relying on a small number of US AI providers. Speaking in Ireland ahead of the G7 summit in France, he urged governments and industry to diversify AI capacity and supply.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said US limits on access to Anthropic’s newest AI systems showed risks in relying on few American suppliers. The restrictions followed a Trump administration directive. Anthropic said it took two models offline for foreign nationals. Carney said countries should treat the move as a warning and plan alternatives.

Anthropic, based in San Francisco, said on Friday it removed access to models called Fable 5 and Mythos 5. The company said it acted to meet new US export controls. These controls were described as the biggest US step so far. They aimed to curb access to the most advanced AI models.

Anthropic AI models and US export controls

Anthropic released Fable widely during the past week. The company described Fable as a reduced version of Mythos. Access to Mythos was already tightly limited. Anthropic cited cybersecurity fears. The company said Mythos could outperform human cybersecurity experts. It could find and exploit computer weaknesses.

Carney said the current situation showed why countries should not depend on a narrow set of models. "The situation were in collectively right now with Mthos and Fable is something that can happen with overreliance on certain models\" Carney said. \"Nobody has done anything wrong in the situation. But we will have done something wrong if we just accept this, dont take the lesson, dont build out and diversify.\"

Anthropic AI models on the G7 agenda

Carney made the remarks in Ireland before the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. Carney said artificial intelligence would be a major topic on Monday night. Carney said the summit would not produce an easy end point. Carney said the issues were difficult and needed sustained work.

Carney said France was also focused on the topic. Carney said a Friday night discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron lasted 45 minutes. Carney said leaders would not claim a clear finish at the summit. Carney said results would be limited because the problems were complex.

Anthropic AI models and Canada’s trade diversification

Carney connected the US AI limits with Canada’s broader effort to spread trade and technology ties. More than 70 per cent of Canada’s exports go to the US. Carney set a goal to double non-US exports within 10 years. Carney said Trump’s trade war was creating a chill in investment.

Carney said a bilateral meeting with Trump was not scheduled at the G7. Carney noted the US, Canada and Mexico free trade deal was up for renewal. Carney said talks would happen among negotiators. Those included Dominic LeBlanc, Janice Charette, Jamieson Greer, and Scott Bessent.

Carney said the negotiators would handle the next stage in Evian. \"The right way to do it at this stage, will be between the principal negotiators, which is going to happen in Evian, he said.\" Carney also repeated a warning about reliance on one supplier. \"Youll hear me say this over and over again. It is never a good idea to have one option, Carney said.\"

Carney also visited Aghagower in County Mayo on Sunday. The village is linked to Carney’s family history. Carney’s grandfather Robert Carney and grandmother Nora Moran were from the town. They moved to Canada in the 1920s. Owen Morgan said local people were proud of Carney’s role.

Morgan visited with Malachy Morgan, aged 17 months, wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey. Morgan said local residents admired Carney’s stance in office. \"People are very impressed, Morgan said. Hes very much standing up for Canadians and I think thats very much admired.\" Carney’s comments kept focus on AI access, trade goals, and talks expected at the G7.

With inputs from PTI