Pentagon Anthropic feud has sales and AI warfare at stake as Friday deadline looms - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxQdGg1REFWeTlDcnc1Q2NEMnhmeUd1SmlxQzJvT1Z2MjNnSWFBV2kweVpJbnBieUl1TzFTVlpJeDFQTEZKNGhfNC04bnh5ZHZhbDh0eHB2X19GSTdWdWVJS0FneVFxQXRTRWZQOVozRDlsVGdUcUY4Q0NSSjViQW5YNXJoQTZaeXhjckJEMXRXVEdPOFFoakZkdGVYdkVQeGRhWmIxNlZLbFlZQ3lWV3lZYk5RVFNqN3J6bndB?oc=5" target="_blank">Pentagon Anthropic feud has sales and AI warfare at stake as Friday deadline looms</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei publicly rejected the Pentagon's demand for unrestricted access to the company’s AI technology, citing ethical concerns, including potential use for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. The Defense Department denied any intent to use the AI for illegal surveillance or autonomous weapons but insisted it reserves the right to use the technology for 'all lawful purposes.'

Anthropic has firmly rejected what the Pentagon described as its 'final offer' regarding the use of the AI model Claude, citing unacceptable terms on critical safeguards. CEO Dario Amodei emphasized that there has been 'virtually no progress' in the negotiations, particularly in ensuring that Claude is not used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. The standoff comes ahead of a tight deadline—Friday at 5:01 PM—after which Anthropic could face serious consequences if it does not allow defense officials broader use of the AI.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has affirmed that OpenAI shares key ethical boundaries with rival AI company Anthropic in their dealings with the Pentagon, particularly opposing the use of AI for mass surveillance and autonomous lethal weapons. This stance mirrors red lines that Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei also set, which have fueled tensions with the Department of Defense. While Altman emphasized that these red lines should serve as a broader industry standard, he also expressed interest in working with the Pentagon on sensitive military applications, such as expanding ChatGPT’s use to classified environments.

As tensions peak between Anthropic and the Pentagon, the AI company refuses to alter its ethical safeguards despite mounting pressure from the Trump administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set a Friday deadline for compliance, threatening to label Anthropic a 'supply chain risk,' a move that could jeopardize its partnerships and contracts. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei insists the company cannot in good conscience permit unrestricted military use of its AI model, Claude, particularly in surveillance or autonomous weapons. Talks have become public and contentious, with Pentagon officials accusing Amodei of obstructing national security.

In February 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum to AI company Anthropic, demanding it relinquish control of its AI technology for unrestricted military use by Friday or risk termination of its government contracts. The Pentagon also threatened to label Anthropic—a maker of the Claude chatbot—a supply chain risk or invoke the Cold War-era Defense Production Act (DPA), which enables the government to compel private industry to prioritize military needs. The DPA, enacted in 1950, has historically been used for national emergencies, including wartime logistics and disaster recovery. It grants the president significant powers to influence domestic production, including prioritizing government orders and offering incentives. However, legal experts warn that using the DPA to compel a company to alter product safety features or ethical use terms would be unprecedented.