MDDI's Response to PQ on Continued Frontier AI Access for Singapore Given US Order to Bar Foreign Access to Anthropic's Fable and Mythos Models

Parliament Sitting on 7 July 2026

Question for Oral Answer

*55 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information following the US order barring foreign access to Anthropic's Fable and Mythos models (a) whether the Government assesses that Singapore needs continued frontier AI access; (b) if so, what is the Government's strategy to secure such access against further US restrictions; and (c) if not, what alternatives will maintain sufficient capability, and what is the acceptable lag behind the frontier.

Answer

Access to frontier models is helpful for specific use cases, such as advanced research and cybersecurity. However, these form a small proportion of AI demand. For most industry, government and research uses, capable models are already available.

For the foreseeable future, access to frontier AI will continue to be shaped not just by commercial considerations, but also export controls and geopolitics. We should therefore be realistic and focus on making the most of the considerable capabilities that remain accessible.

At the same time, for better resilience, we will diversify and maintain access to a range of AI models through partnerships with multiple providers. At international fora, we continue to advocate for an AI ecosystem that is open and collaborate with partners on different aspects of AI governance, including safety, security and the responsible use of AI. This will help preserve flexibility to choose amongst available options to meet Singapore's AI needs.

*Converted to written answer