Germany must catch up in the race for AI dominance or else face serious security risks, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned on Tuesday.
Asked to comment on the US government's decision to block access to Anthropic's artificial intelligence models adept at detecting software vulnerabilities, Dobrindt said that the world was experiencing an AI race.
In such a moment, he said, it was beneficial to be in a position to help shape technological innovations. Otherwise, Dobrindt warned, "we could very quickly find ourselves among the victims."
It comes after Anthropic on Saturday blocked access to its newly released cutting-edge AI software, following an order by the US government.
In a blog post published on Friday, the company said government agencies had instructed it to prevent all foreign nationals from accessing the AI models Fable 5 and Mythos 5, citing national security concerns.
The artificial intelligence behind Anthropic’s Mythos AI model is particularly adept at detecting software vulnerabilities, some of which have remained undiscovered for decades.
This capability has so far been used by US authorities and selected companies to plug security gaps. However, there had been concern from the outset that the software could be used to carry out cyberattacks by helping malicious actors to identify vulnerabilities.
Germany has so far not had access to the AI model, but according to the German government, it has been in talks with Anthropic.
Within the European Union, the regulation of artificial intelligence is primarily the responsibility of the European Commission; all providers must, for example, comply with the European AI Act.
The Brussels-based authority has been in talks with Anthropic for weeks, seeking access to the company's latest models.
A commission spokesman said the talks were continuing regardless of the US ban, adding that the technology was considered to be increasingly turning into "a strategic asset."
Dobrindt said it was quite possible that comparable capabilities will soon be available in China too.
He stressed that it would be better for Europe to develop similar capabilities itself, rather than relying on partners and friends.
