WASHINGTON — The U.S. Defense Department has given artificial intelligence firm Anthropic a firm deadline to grant the military unrestricted access to its AI systems or risk serious consequences, senior officials said this week. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei on Tuesday that the company must agree by Friday to open its AI technology for broad military use or face potential actions including contract loss or being designated a national security supply chain risk.
Anthropic is known for its “Claude” AI model and has been cautious about removing guardrails that limit certain defence applications, such as fully autonomous weapons or mass surveillance of U.S. citizens — restrictions that the Pentagon says are too restrictive for military needs. Hegseth and Defence Department officials said the move was necessary to ensure that cutting-edge AI tools are available for all lawful military missions without conditions that could hinder operations.
Officials added that if Anthropic fails to meet the deadline, the Pentagon might invoke emergency authorities like the Defense Production Act to compel compliance or reconsider the company’s role on critical government contracts. Anthropic said it is engaging in discussions in good faith but reiterated its commitment to responsible AI use. The standoff highlights growing tensions between national security demands and industry concerns over ethical limits on powerful AI technologies.
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