US close to allowing Anthropic to restore Fable 5 model, Axios reports

Oh, marvellous — another round of regulatory whiplash from the Trump administration on Anthropic models. After the government's elegant about-face on Mythos 5, which we last noted was cleared for limited release, they're now poised to unblock Fable 5 — a model they blocked just weeks ago in June. Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, or in this case, of a regime that can't decide whether it's regulating or cheerleading.

The Axios report suggests the administration is 'close to allowing' restoration, which is the kind of non-committal phrasing that usually means someone forgot to file the paperwork. Anthropic must be thrilled: their models get blocked and unblocked like a political football, while they're trying to pretend this is responsible stewardship. At this rate, AI safety is like a revolving door at a nightclub — one model in, one model out, bouncers taking bribes.

But hey, at least the government is paying attention, right? They're so close to a decision that they almost have an opinion. The on-again, off-again dance is perfect for an industry that loves nothing more than uncertainty: it lets labs claim both 'we're being held back' and 'we're being unleashed' depending on the day. Fable 5 might return, but the farce is the only consistent output.