Key Takeaways
- Anthropic’s Claude AI has been disabled for Goldman Sachs banking personnel in Hong Kong following recent policy changes
- Alternative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini continue to be accessible through Goldman’s internal systems
- Following a contractual assessment, Goldman determined that Hong Kong-based staff should discontinue all Anthropic product usage
- Anthropic’s platform documentation does not identify Hong Kong as an officially supported region
- Financial institutions and regulators worldwide are examining Anthropic’s latest Mythos model for potential banking sector implications
Goldman Sachs has discontinued access to Anthropic’s Claude artificial intelligence system for its Hong Kong-based banking personnel, Reuters has learned from a source with firsthand knowledge of the decision.
The individual briefed on the matter revealed to Reuters that employees in Hong Kong had previously utilized Claude via the firm’s proprietary AI infrastructure. This capability was terminated within the past several weeks.
Meanwhile, competing AI solutions from Google’s Gemini suite and OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform remain fully operational for personnel accessing the same internal system.
The Financial Times initially disclosed this development, referencing sources knowledgeable about the circumstances. When approached for statement, Goldman Sachs representatives declined to provide comment. Anthropic has yet to respond to multiple inquiries.
As reported by the FT, Goldman arrived at this conclusion after conducting a rigorous interpretation of its existing agreement with Anthropic. The financial institution engaged in discussions with Anthropic prior to finalizing its determination that Hong Kong-based team members should cease utilizing any Anthropic solutions.
A representative from Anthropic informed the FT that Claude has never received official “support” designation for Hong Kong operations. The company’s public-facing documentation excludes Hong Kong from the list of territories where its API services or Claude.ai platform are formally accessible.
Hong Kong’s Unique Position in AI Access
Hong Kong occupies a distinctive regulatory space regarding American artificial intelligence technologies. While AI systems from U.S. corporations face prohibition throughout mainland China, Hong Kong has maintained relatively open access, with availability determined by individual technology providers.
This development unfolds against escalating friction between Washington and Beijing concerning artificial intelligence capabilities and information security protocols. An anticipated diplomatic meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping scheduled for mid-May is anticipated to address these concerns.
The American government released a worldwide advisory recently regarding purported AI intellectual property theft by Chinese AI entities. During 2024, OpenAI implemented measures to prevent China-based traffic from accessing its API infrastructure, citing worries that its technology could be exploited by Chinese rivals for model development.
Reuters has been unable to verify whether additional financial institutions or corporations have implemented similar Claude access limitations within Hong Kong.
Mythos Model Under Regulatory Examination
Goldman’s decision coincides with increased regulatory interest in Anthropic’s most recent AI system, Mythos, from banking institutions and financial oversight authorities globally.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority confirmed to Reuters that it has reached out to numerous prominent banking organizations to gather information regarding recent Mythos-related developments. The authority has additionally advised these institutions to refresh their risk evaluation frameworks and implement suitable protective measures.
Reuters has documented that certain lending institutions are already exploring supplementary security protocols in reaction to cybersecurity vulnerabilities associated with sophisticated AI technologies.
During February, Goldman Sachs Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti disclosed that the institution was collaborating with Anthropic to create AI-driven autonomous agents designed to automate an expanding spectrum of operational tasks.
The Hong Kong government has not provided a response to Reuters’ inquiry for official comment. The HKMA has declined to address Goldman’s particular decision regarding Claude access.
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