Ever heard of Anthropic? It's a U.S.-based AI startup behind Claude, a rival to ChatGPT. On September 5, they announced a fresh policy: companies in China, plus any firms over 50% owned by organizations in banned regions (think Russia, the DPRK, Iran) can't use their services—even if they set up offshore subsidiaries.
Why the move? Anthropic cites legal & security risks. This is the first time a major U.S. AI player has publicly imposed such broad restrictions on Chinese-linked entities. According to AI lawyer Nicholas Cook, the immediate impact might be modest—many local teams are already building homegrown AI tools. Still, Anthropic estimates potential revenue losses in the low hundreds of millions.
For tech hubs across South & Southeast Asia—like Bengaluru or Jakarta—this raises a question: could access to cutting-edge AI tools get tangled in geopolitics? Startups eyeing Anthropic’s APIs might need backup plans or consider regional AI providers.
On the diplomatic front, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China opposes politicizing sci-tech trade and using it as a weapon—adding that “such practice does no one good.”
Meanwhile, Anthropic is riding high, valued at $183 billion and fresh off a $13 billion funding round. But it's also facing legal heat: the company agreed to a landmark $1.5 billion settlement with authors who claimed their books were used without permission to train Claude.
For young pros in our region, the takeaway is clear: the AI landscape is shifting fast. Stay nimble, explore diverse AI partners, and keep one eye on global policy changes—because in this game, tech and geopolitics are more intertwined than ever. 🚀
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Reference(s):
U.S. AI startup Anthropic expands restrictions on Chinese entities
cgtn.com
