The US authorities have reportedly barred Saudi investors from participating in the stake sale of Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence start-up backed by cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The decision arose over national security concerns, although specific threats or reasons have not been disclosed publicly.
The US, like many other countries, reserves the right to block certain investments if they fear it could pose a risk to their national security. These fears could relate to the technology sector, crucial infrastructure, or other sensitive areas. With Anthropic developing cutting-edge AI technologies, it’s plausible that the US authorities do not want this advanced technology potentially falling into the wrong hands.
FTX, the well-known cryptocurrency exchange, is one of the key backers of Anthropic. Cryptocurrencies themselves are often subject to regulatory scrutiny and security concerns due to their potential use in illicit activities and their lack of regulatory oversight, which might have added another layer of complexity to this issue.
Please note that without more specific information, it’s difficult to discern the exact reasoning behind the decision.