G7 leaders discuss ‘trusted partners’ access to cutting-edge US AI models, sources say

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 16 (Reuters) – G7 leaders discussed a plan to grant ​select “trusted partners” access to advanced AI models from U.S. firms such as Anthropic, ‌three diplomatic sources said on Tuesday, potentially opening a path around restrictions on non-American use.

Anthropic on Friday disabled access for all users to Fable 5 and Mythos 5, its most advanced AI models. The ​company made that move after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Anthropic to block foreign nationals ​from accessing its most advanced AI models, 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.

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.

AI executives from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, 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.

The U.S. Commerce Department and 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.