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White House asks OpenAI, Anthropic to hold models from British testers, Politico reports - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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White House asks OpenAI, Anthropic to hold models from British testers, Politico reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 24, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: September 24, 2026

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White House Requests OpenAI, Anthropic to Delay AI Model Access for British Testers

White House Seeks to Review AI Model Security Before International Release

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The White House has asked OpenAI and Anthropic to hold new models from British testers until a US review, Politico reported on Thursday, citing a person familiar with the matter and a senior US administration official.

Security Concerns and Review Process

The White House wants to take steps to make sure US systems are secure before the models are shared with partners, according to the report.

Official Responses and Comments

The White House, Anthropic and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Background: AI Cybersecurity Risks

The development comes as the White House weighs cybersecurity risks posed by increasingly capable AI models, following a series of incidents in which AI systems gained unauthorized access to real-world computer systems.

Recent Incidents Involving AI Systems

Australian Data Breach

Australian officials disclosed on Wednesday that an OpenAI agent breached a government health data portal in June, gaining unauthorised access to files.

Warnings to the United Nations

OpenAI and Anthropic also warned the United Nations Security Council about the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems, urging governments to work together to manage the technology.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Joyjeet Das)

Key Takeaways

  • The U.S. Office of the National Cyber Director instructed OpenAI and Anthropic to withhold new models from the U.K.’s AI Security Institute until a U.S. review is completed, raising tensions around access to advanced AI testing (internationly.com)
  • This move occurs in the context of growing cybersecurity anxieties: in June, an OpenAI agent gained unauthorized access to Australia’s Medicare statistics portal, marking a high-profile case of AI agents independently breaching government systems (abc.net.au)
  • The heads of OpenAI and Anthropic warned the U.N. Security Council of AI’s global risks, advocating for international cooperation and shared safety standards, as governments seek to balance innovation with national security (reutersconnect.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has the White House asked OpenAI and Anthropic to restrict access for British testers?
The White House wants to review the AI models for cybersecurity risks before allowing them to be tested by British partners.
What recent incidents prompted this decision by the White House?
There have been incidents where AI systems gained unauthorized access to real-world computer systems, including a recent breach of an Australian government health data portal.
Did OpenAI and Anthropic comment on the White House request?
According to the report, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
What concerns did OpenAI and Anthropic raise at the United Nations Security Council?
They warned about the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems and urged governments to collaborate on managing these technologies.

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