Google, Microsoft, and Meta Restrict Employee Use of Each Other's AI Models and Coding Tools in 2026
English summary
In the first half of 2026, major AI companies began imposing mutual restrictions. Google limited Meta's access to Gemini in March due to compute capacity shortages, and in April barred most employees from using Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex for security reasons, while DeepMind teams retained access. In May, Microsoft cancelled most internal Claude Code licenses, pushing developers to GitHub Copilot CLI, and later restricted Claude Fable5 over Anthropic's data retention policy. In late June, Meta restricted employees from using Claude and Codex in model building, fearing output could contaminate training data and violate anti-distillation clauses. These moves create three barriers: resource quotas, data security boundaries, and prevention of model distillation. The free-trial era of AI tools among AI giants is over, as models become core production assets.
Chinese summary
2026年上半年，多家AI巨头开始互相限制使用彼此模型和工具。谷歌3月因算力短缺限制Meta对Gemini的使用，4月禁止多数员工使用Claude Code和Codex，但DeepMind部分团队保留访问。微软5月取消大部分内部Claude Code许可，将开发者导向GitHub Copilot CLI，随后因Anthropic数据留存政策限制Claude Fable5。6月底Meta限制员工在模型构建中使用Claude和Codex，担心输出污染训练数据。这些动作形成三道防线：算力配额、数据安全边界和防蒸馏保护。AI工具的自由试用期结束，模型成为核心生产资料。
Key points
Google limited Meta's Gemini usage in March due to compute capacity shortage, delaying Meta's internal AI projects.
谷歌3月因算力短缺限制Meta对Gemini的使用，推迟了部分内部AI项目。
Google banned most employees from using Claude Code and Codex, citing security concerns, though DeepMind teams still use them.
谷歌以安全担忧为由禁止多数员工使用Claude Code和Codex，但DeepMind团队仍在使用。
Microsoft cancelled most internal Claude Code licenses and later restricted Claude Fable5 over data retention policy, steering staff to GitHub Copilot CLI.
微软取消大部分内部Claude Code许可，后因数据留存政策限制Claude Fable5，并将开发者导向GitHub Copilot CLI。
Meta restricted Claude and Codex in model building to avoid output entering training data and breaching anti-distillation clauses.
Meta限制在模型构建中使用Claude和Codex，以避免输出进入训练数据并违反反蒸馏条款。
These restrictions illustrate three barriers: resource quotas, data security, and prevention of model distillation, marking the end of free AI tool usage among giants.
这些限制反映出三道防线：资源配额、数据安全、防蒸馏，标志着巨头间AI工具自由试用期结束。