WASHINGTON — Technology companies are adjusting compliance strategies and product plans following a series of regulatory warnings and oversight measures targeting artificial intelligence, as authorities in the United States and Europe intensify scrutiny of how advanced AI systems are developed, deployed and governed.
The latest regulatory actions came over the past week from financial supervisors, antitrust regulators and national security authorities. U.S. banking regulators have increased examinations of how financial institutions use AI, requesting detailed information on governance controls, data management, vendor oversight and contingency planning, according to people familiar with the process. Regulators are focusing on areas including lending, sanctions screening and fraud monitoring.
At the same time, U.S. authorities ordered restrictions on access to some of Anthropic's most advanced AI models, citing national security concerns and the possibility that the systems could be used to identify software vulnerabilities. Anthropic said it disabled the models globally in response to the directive while disputing the government's assessment of the risks.
In Europe, regulators have also moved to address competition and AI-related concerns. The European Commission ordered Meta Platforms to provide rival AI chatbot developers access to WhatsApp on terms regulators said were necessary to preserve competition while an antitrust investigation continues. Meta criticized the decision and said it would appeal.
Financial regulators have separately raised concerns about increasingly autonomous AI systems. The Financial Stability Board, a global body that monitors risks to the financial system, called for stronger safeguards around so-called agentic AI, which can perform tasks with limited human oversight. The organization said boards and senior executives should consider additional controls as adoption expands.
European banking supervisors have also warned lenders to strengthen defenses against AI-related cyber risks. European Central Bank supervisory officials said banks would receive requests for targeted measures aimed at protecting critical systems from increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled threats.
“These interim measures will safeguard competition in the growing market for AI assistants,” European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera said in a statement regarding the Meta case.
Technology companies have responded by reviewing compliance procedures, strengthening internal controls and engaging with regulators, according to public statements and regulatory filings. Industry representatives have argued that clear regulatory frameworks are needed to support innovation while addressing safety, security and competition concerns. Regulators, meanwhile, have said existing laws and supervisory tools remain applicable even as AI capabilities evolve.
As of Monday, no broad new U.S. federal AI law had been announced. However, multiple regulatory reviews, antitrust investigations and supervisory initiatives remained active, leaving technology firms facing heightened scrutiny across several major markets.
