Anthropic's export restrictions are fueling Asia's AI boom

Anthropic's export restrictions have opened a window of opportunity for Asian AI startups, as they are rapidly rolling out cybersecurity models for clients who no longer have access to Anthropic's most advanced model.

Over the past few weeks, startups in Japan and China have unveiled new AI models positioned as alternatives to Anthropic's latest Mythos and Fable 5 systems, seeking to capitalise on growing enterprise demand for advanced cybersecurity tools.

Among the first movers is Tokyo-based Sakana AI, which introduced Fugu, an orchestration-based cybersecurity model that the company says delivers performance comparable to Anthropic's Fable 5 on several industry benchmarks.

In China, 360 Security launched Tulongfeng, an AI-powered vulnerability discovery model designed to compete with Mythos. Chinese AI startup Z.ai has also showcased cybersecurity improvements in its latest GLM models, signalling the region's growing ambitions in frontier AI.

The launches come as US export restrictions on Anthropic's most capable cybersecurity models continue over national security concerns. The restrictions were intended to prevent sensitive. AI capabilities from reaching certain overseas markets. But companies still require AI systems capable of vulnerability detection, malware analysis, and security research. This has driven demand for alternatives that can deliver similar capabilities without the uncertainty surrounding exports.

The developments also reflect the rapid maturing of Asia's AI ecosystem. Rather than competing only on cost, startups are increasingly targeting specialised domains such as cybersecurity, and building models designed for enterprise use cases. Some companies are taking alternative approaches, including orchestrating multiple AI models instead of training a single frontier-scale system, allowing them to achieve competitive performance with lower development costs.

As governments increasingly treat advanced AI models as strategic technologies, export controls are beginning to reshape where innovation happens. Similar to the semiconductor industry, restrictions on access are encouraging countries and companies to accelerate investments in domestic AI capabilities.

While Anthropic has reportedly restored limited access to some trusted organisations, broader restrictions remain in place, allowing Asian firms to establish themselves in a market dominated by a handful of US companies.