UK Regains Early Access to AI Models After Reported White House Reversal

The White House has reportedly restored Britain’s access to advanced AI models for testing before release, giving researchers another opportunity to identify security risks before businesses adopt them.

In September, the White House asked OpenAI, Anthropic and other major AI developers to stop sharing new models with the UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI), according to The Telegraph. Following that intervention, Anthropic restricted British officials’ access to Claude Mythos 5.1.

The Telegraph reported that lobbying by UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan helped reverse the decision, restoring pre-release access to models from Anthropic, Google DeepMind and OpenAI. In an Oct. 12 speech, Narayan confirmed that AISI scientists were evaluating the latest generation of models, including Gemini 4 Argon, following discussions with developers and the US government.

Washington faces growing pressure over AI risks

The decision comes as governments grapple with how to evaluate increasingly capable AI systems without unnecessarily restricting development.

President Donald Trump has opposed tighter international controls on AI. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last month, he said he wanted to “encourage” AI rather than “rein it in,” according to The Telegraph. Britain, meanwhile, has sought a larger role in international AI oversight. Its AISI, established in 2023, tests advanced systems to assess their capabilities and potential for misuse.