Anthropic, one of the leading AI firms in the world, is facing a deadline. The Dario Amodei-led startup has until Friday to accept demands of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to remove restrictions from its AI models for the Pentagon. However, a new report indicates that Amodei is not willing to budge.
As per Reuters, Anthropic has “no intention” of easing its usage restrictions when it comes to military purposes. This comes after Dario Amodei was summoned by Pete Hegseth to discuss the removal of these safeguards.
Why is Anthropic at odds with US government?
The dispute centers on whether Anthropic should allow its systems to be used for unrestricted military purposes, including fully autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of Americans. As per reports, Dario Amodei has described these as “red lines,” reiterating the company’s commitment to safety-focused AI development.
Previously, the US government has stated that it used Anthropic’s AI models during its operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
What will US government do if Anthropic fails to meet deadline?
During the meeting with Amodei, Pete Hegseth warned that Anthropic could face significant consequences if it does not comply. According to reports, Hegseth stated that the Pentagon will either declare Anthropic a “supply chain risk”—a designation usually reserved for foreign adversaries—or invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to compel the company to tailor its AI model to military needs.
If Anthropic is labeled as a supply chain risk, all defense contractors with the US government would need to cut ties with Anthropic. The Amodei-led startup signed a $200 million contract with the US government last year.
On the other hand, the DPA enables the US government to force companies to prioritise or expand production for national defense.
Pentagon officials argue that military use of technology should be governed by U.S. law and constitutional limits, not by private company policies. A senior Pentagon official told The Associated Press that “the department has issued only lawful orders and that any legal responsibility for use of the tools rests with the military, not the AI provider.”
Anthropic has been the only major provider cleared for classified military networks, which could make things difficult for the US Department of Defense if they are forced to cut ties with the AI startup. Though the Pentagon has started signing contracts with other AI firms such as xAI.
