White House Demands OpenAI and Anthropic Block Access to Models for UK-Based Testers

The White House issued a formal request to OpenAI and Anthropic, instructing them to limit access to their AI models for testers based in the United Kingdom. The directive was reported by multiple outlets, including Reuters and The Star, with both citing Politico as the source. The exact rationale for the request was not disclosed, but it is believed to be related to data sovereignty and regulatory alignment. The decision has sparked discussions about the implications for global AI research and development. While OpenAI and Anthropic have not publicly commented on the request, industry analysts suggest it could affect how international partnerships are structured. The White House has not provided further details on the scope or timeline of the restrictions. The two sources, Reuters and The Star, provided identical headlines and excerpts, with only minor differences in publication times. There are no reported divergences in the factual content of the reports.