White House meets with Anthropic CEO over new AI model

White House Engages with Anthropic on Advanced AI Model Amid Security Concerns

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Friday to discuss the company’s new Mythos artificial intelligence model, marking a significant shift in relations between the Trump administration and the AI company.

The meeting, described as “productive and constructive” by the White House, focused on potential collaboration opportunities while balancing innovation with safety concerns. A White House official, speaking anonymously, emphasized that the administration is actively engaging with advanced AI labs regarding their models and software security, noting that any technology adoption by the federal government would require thorough evaluation.

In a statement following the meeting, Anthropic confirmed discussions with senior administration officials explored how the San Francisco-based company and the U.S. government could work together on “key shared priorities such as cybersecurity, America’s lead in the AI race, and AI safety.”

This engagement represents a notable warming of relations after months of tension between the Trump administration and Anthropic. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump had attempted to block all federal agencies from using Anthropic’s chatbot Claude following a contract dispute with the Pentagon. Trump had declared on social media that the administration “will not do business with them again!” When asked about Friday’s meeting while in Arizona, Trump stated he had “no idea” about it.

The conflict extended further when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk—an unprecedented action against a U.S. company that Anthropic challenged in two federal courts. The company had sought assurances that the Pentagon would not use its technology in fully autonomous weapons or for surveillance of American citizens, while Hegseth maintained that the company must allow for any Pentagon uses deemed lawful.

In March, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a ruling that blocked the enforcement of Trump’s directive ordering federal agencies to cease using Anthropic products.

Anthropic’s new Mythos model, announced on April 7, has garnered significant attention for its claimed capabilities. The company described it as “strikingly capable,” particularly in cybersecurity, where it reportedly can surpass human experts in identifying and exploiting computer vulnerabilities. Due to these capabilities, Anthropic has limited its use to select customers.

While some industry observers questioned whether Anthropic’s warnings about its powerful AI were merely marketing tactics, even critics have acknowledged Mythos might represent a genuine advancement in AI technology. David Sacks, who served as the White House’s AI and crypto czar and has been critical of Anthropic in the past, urged people to “take this seriously.”

“With cyber, I actually would give them credit in this case and say this is more on the real side,” Sacks said on the “All-In” podcast. “It just makes sense that as the coding models become more and more capable, they are more capable at finding bugs. That means they’re more capable at finding vulnerabilities.”

International organizations have also taken notice. The United Kingdom’s AI Security Institute evaluated Mythos and concluded it represents a “step up” over previous models, noting it “can exploit systems with weak security posture, and it is likely that more models with these capabilities will be developed.”

European officials confirmed Anthropic has been in discussions with the European Union about its AI models, including advanced versions not yet released in Europe.

Along with the Mythos announcement, Anthropic launched Project Glasswing, an initiative bringing together tech giants including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, along with other major companies like JPMorgan Chase. The project aims to protect critical global software from potential “severe” consequences that advanced AI models could pose to public safety, national security, and the economy.

Jack Clark, Anthropic’s co-founder and policy chief, emphasized at this week’s Semafor World Economy conference that while Mythos is currently ahead of competitors, it’s not a “special model” in the long run. “There will be other systems just like this in a few months from other companies, and in a year to a year-and-a-half later, there will be open-weight models from China that have these capabilities,” he warned, stressing that “the world is going to have to get ready for more powerful systems.”