The AI industry's platform trap is starting to look a lot like Microsoft's
"Tensions rise as Anthropic throttles its new Mythos model, sparking fears of a platform trap. Investors and customers push back against the move."
Anthropic limits access to its Mythos model in certain tasks. The company released Claude Fable 5, a version of its Mythos model, but quietly restricted performance for tasks related to building AI software or hardware. This move has sparked backlash from customers, partners, and investors, who fear that Anthropic is favoring its own competing products.
The throttling is officially intended to prevent foreign adversaries or rival AI labs from using Anthropic's models to improve their own technology. However, developers are concerned that even basic features for AI-powered apps could get restricted. Martin Casado, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, warned on X that it's only a matter of time before only model creators have access to the most powerful models, while everyone else gets smaller, distilled versions.
Anthropic's actions are part of a larger pattern in the AI industry, where model providers and customers often become rivals. The company asked firms like Figma and Canva to partner on its AI design tool Claude Design, only to expand the feature set and compete directly with their offerings. Figma pulled out of the partnership, and Anthropic's Chief Product Officer Mike Krieger left Figma's board. Figma CEO Dylan Field accused Anthropic of not being consistently candid in their communications.
The situation is reminiscent of earlier cases involving Microsoft and Google, which used their platform dominance to favor their own apps and squeeze out partners. Both companies were later found to be illegal monopolies. Quinn Slack, CEO of coding startup Amp and a longtime Anthropic customer, warned that if there's just one winner in the AI model race, they can push around and stomp their customers.
Behind Anthropic's aggressive moves is an unprecedented revenue surge. The company's annualized revenue grew fivefold in just five months to nearly $50 billion, overtaking OpenAI. Combined, Anthropic and OpenAI are growing faster than the next 32 large AI startups put together. Both companies are deepening their moats through subsidiaries like OpenAI's DeployCo.
The implications of Anthropic's actions are significant. If the company continues to restrict access to its models and favor its own products, it could stifle innovation and competition in the AI industry. This could lead to a situation where only a few large players dominate the market, and smaller companies are unable to compete. The AI industry is still in its early stages, and it's essential to ensure that it remains open and competitive.
Anthropic's move has also sparked concerns about the potential for abuse of power. If a single company has control over the most powerful AI models, it could use this power to manipulate the market and crush its competitors. This is a scenario that regulators and lawmakers should be aware of, and take steps to prevent.
In conclusion, Anthropic's decision to restrict access to its Mythos model has sparked a heated debate in the AI industry. While the company's actions may be intended to prevent the misuse of its models, they also raise concerns about the potential for abuse of power and the stifling of competition. As the AI industry continues to grow and evolve, it's essential to ensure that it remains open, competitive, and free from monopolistic practices.
