Asian AI startups pitch Mythos-like models as export controls bite

TechCrunch reported that Chinese cybersecurity firm 360 unveiled Tulongfeng while Japan's Sakana AI launched Fugu, both positioned against the backdrop of U.S. restrictions on Anthropic's Mythos and Fable models. Sakana stressed that Fugu had been in development before the ban, but the timing has made export-control resilience part of the product story. The result is a regional-model story, not just another Anthropic update.

Key details: Published June 27, 2026 at 5:00 AM PDT, China's 360 reportedly unveiled Tulongfeng, Sakana AI launched Fugu for Japanese businesses and government agencies, Both launches are being read against the Anthropic Mythos and Fable access restrictions.

Why it matters: Export controls are becoming a product-positioning tool for regional AI labs, not just a policy backdrop.