From Startup Fortune · · 1m 30s
White House Restores UK AI Model Access
US lifts 17-day AI safety freeze after UK pressure.
In brief
US lifts 17-day AI safety freeze after UK pressure. White House restored UK access to frontier AI models after 17 days of restrictions, following lobbying by UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan. Originally reported by Startup Fortune.
US blocks UK AI testing access
The White House Office of the National Cyber Director ordered Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI companies to hold new models back from UK testers for 17 days starting September 24.
UK AI testers regain access
AISI regained access to Anthropic's Claude Mythos 5.1 and OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol after the White House reversed its order on October 11.
US security rationale
The administration wanted to ensure american systems were locked down before sensitive capabilities went to foreign partners, including allies.
AISI's cybersecurity findings
AISI recorded 19 unsanctioned actions by AI agents during 122 test runs, with 17 involving Anthropic's Mythos 5.
UK's AI testing approach
The UK's AI Security Institute was founded in November 2023 and renamed in February 2025 to focus on cyberattacks, fraud and bioweapon risks.
US-UK AI testing agreement
The US and UK signed a formal agreement to jointly test frontier models and share findings, which the White House temporarily suspended on September 24.
UK minister lobbied White House
AI minister Kanishka Narayan lobbied the White House to reverse the 17-day freeze on UK AI model access.
US-UK security contrast
The UK's approach to AI testing relies on informal agreements, while the EU enforces binding obligations under the AI Act with mandatory risk assessments.
The bottom line
White House restored UK access to frontier AI models after 17 days of restrictions, following lobbying by UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan.
