Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the model known as Claude, has reportedly refused a Pentagon request to remove safeguards that would allow broader military use of its technology. Claude is currently the only AI model operating within certain classified military systems and was previously used in high-profile intelligence operations. However, when asked to authorize usage for “all legal purposes,” the company declined, citing ethical concerns. Defense officials have since explored labeling Anthropic a potential “supply chain risk,” a designation typically reserved for foreign entities, signaling escalating tensions between Silicon Valley and the national security establishment.

At the heart of the dispute are concerns about expanded AI applications, including mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. While the Pentagon denies intentions to deploy such capabilities, Anthropic leadership stated it “cannot in good conscience” lift its restrictions. Major defense contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin have reportedly been asked to evaluate their reliance on the AI model. What we are witnessing is not merely a business disagreement—it is a pivotal moment in the fusion of artificial intelligence and modern warfare, where questions of oversight, autonomy, and machine decision-making are moving from theory into operational reality.

SOURCE: Independent