Asian AI startups launch models amid ongoing US export ban on Anthropic
9 reported1 unconfirmed
Chinese cybersecurity firm 360 reportedly unveiled Tulongfeng, an AI tool it says can compete with Anthropic’s Mythos, on Wednesday. Earlier the same week, Tokyo-based Sakana AI launched Fugu, a frontier AI model it says stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos Preview. The launches come two weeks after the U.S. government ordered a ban preventing Anthropic from global access to Mythos and Fable 5. A Sakana AI spokesperson told TechCrunch the timing was “entirely coincidental,” but the company’s website advertises “delivering frontier capability without the risk of export controls.” Sakana, co-founded in 2023 by former Google researchers, targets Fugu at Japanese businesses and government agencies looking to reduce exposure to tightening export controls. China’s 360 reportedly unveiled two AI security tools, with founder Zhou Hongyi describing vulnerability-finding AI as a national strategic asset. Anthropic’s run-rate revenue crossed $47 billion in May 2026, though how much depends on Asian enterprise customers is not publicly known.
What’s reported
Chinese cybersecurity firm 360 reportedly unveiled Tulongfeng, an AI tool it says can compete with Anthropic’s Mythos, on Wednesday.
Tokyo-based Sakana AI launched Fugu, a frontier AI model it says stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos Preview.
The U.S. government’s ban preventing Anthropic from global access to Mythos and Fable 5 occurred two weeks ago.
A Sakana AI spokesperson said the timing was “entirely coincidental.”
Sakana’s website advertises “delivering frontier capability without the risk of export controls.”
Sakana was co-founded in 2023 by former Google researchers Ren Ito, Llion Jones, and David Ha.
China’s 360 reportedly unveiled two AI security tools: Tulongfeng for vulnerability discovery and Yitianzhen for cyber defense.
360 founder Zhou Hongyi described vulnerability-finding AI as a national strategic asset.
Anthropic’s run-rate revenue crossed $47 billion in May 2026.
Open questions
How much of Anthropic’s revenue depends on Asian enterprise customers is not publicly known.
Key figures
Zhou Hongyi, founder of 360
Ren Ito, co-founder of Sakana AI
Llion Jones, co-founder of Sakana AI
David Ha, co-founder and CEO of Sakana AI
A spokesperson for Sakana AI (name not provided)
Sources: TechCrunch
