Anthropic got hit by export rules nobody understands

Anthropic spent the week trying to restore access to its newest AI models after the Trump administration ordered restrictions on foreign nationals, including people inside the US and some employees. The company said officials cited national security authorities, but the legal basis for applying export controls to model access remains unclear.

The move suggests US export controls may be expanding from chips and infrastructure to direct access to advanced AI systems. If this approach holds, AI companies could face more complex compliance burdens around user nationality, employee access, and model deployment across borders.