Anthropic recently rejected a Chinese think tank's request for access to its most advanced AI model, Claude Mythos, during a meeting in Singapore. The company has classified this model as 'digital-weapons-grade' due to its sophisticated cyber capabilities, restricting access to about 40 elite institutions in the US and UK, primarily in defense and intelligence.
Anthropic has publicly stated it has forfeited several hundred million dollars in revenue by denying access to entities connected to the Chinese Communist Party, including sanctioned Chinese firms. The rejection occurred in late April or early May 2026.
In response, Chinese AI firms have reportedly launched industrial-scale attacks against Claude, sending over 16 million queries through fraudulent accounts to access restricted capabilities. A Chinese state-linked group has also exploited Claude in an AI-orchestrated cyber-espionage operation targeting multiple organizations.