Goldman Pulls the Plug on Claude AI for Hong Kong Bankers – Here’s Why

TLDR

• Goldman Sachs removed access to Anthropic’s Claude AI for its Hong Kong banking staff in recent weeks
• Other AI tools including Gemini and ChatGPT remain available on Goldman’s internal platform
• Goldman concluded Hong Kong employees should not use any Anthropic products after reviewing its contract
• Hong Kong is not listed as a supported market on Anthropic’s official website
• Anthropic’s new Mythos model has drawn scrutiny from global banks and financial regulators over banking system risks

Goldman Sachs has cut access to Anthropic’s Claude AI model for its banking staff in Hong Kong, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

The source told Reuters that Hong Kong employees had previously been able to use Claude through an internal AI platform. In recent weeks, that access has been removed.

Other AI tools, including Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, are still available to staff on the same internal platform.

The Financial Times first reported the change, citing people familiar with the matter. Goldman Sachs declined to comment. Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to the FT, Goldman reached the decision after taking a strict reading of its contract with Anthropic. The bank consulted with Anthropic before concluding that its Hong Kong employees should not be using any Anthropic products.

An Anthropic spokesperson told the FT that Claude had never been officially “supported” in Hong Kong. The company’s website does not list Hong Kong as a market where its API or Claude.ai are officially available.

Why Hong Kong Is in Focus

Hong Kong sits in a complicated position when it comes to U.S. AI tools. AI models from American companies are banned in mainland China, but Hong Kong has largely remained open, with access rules set by the companies themselves.

The move comes as tensions between the U.S. and China over AI technology and data security continue to grow. A planned summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in mid-May is expected to cover these topics.

The U.S. government issued a global warning last week about alleged AI thefts by Chinese AI operators. In 2024, OpenAI also moved to block China traffic to its API over concerns that its models could be used by Chinese competitors for training.

Reuters could not confirm whether other banks or companies had restricted Claude access in Hong Kong.

Anthropic’s Mythos Draws Regulatory Attention

Goldman’s move also comes as Anthropic’s newest AI model, Mythos, has drawn attention from global banks and financial regulators.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority told Reuters it has contacted a range of major banks to understand the latest developments around Mythos. It also reminded those banks to update their risk assessments and take appropriate measures.

Reuters reported that some lenders were already considering extra safeguards in response to cybersecurity threats linked to advanced AI models.

In February, Goldman Sachs Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti said the bank was working with Anthropic to develop AI-powered agents to automate a growing range of functions.

The Hong Kong government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The HKMA declined to comment on Goldman’s specific decision.

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