Pentagon Stops Using Anthropic AI Tools Months After Blacklisting Company (BBC News)
The US Department of Defence has ceased using Anthropic's AI tools, an official has confirmed to the BBC, months after labelling the company a supply chain risk on national security grounds.
Background
- In February, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk.
- The Pentagon aimed to stop using Anthropic by late August.
- However, recent reports suggest that as recently as last week, Anthropic's Claude model was still in use by the department for various tasks, including research, analysis, intelligence gathering, and military operations against Iran.
The Issue
Anthropic had been a key supplier to the US government and military since 2024, with its tools deployed in classified work. The Pentagon requested that Anthropic remove safety guardrails from Claude, granting them unrestricted access to the AI tools. When Anthropic refused, citing concerns over mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, Hegseth designated the company a "national security supply-chain risk."
Legal Battles
Anthropic has sued the Trump administration, arguing that the designation was "unprecedented and unlawful."
Alternatives
While the legal fight continues, the Pentagon has signed contracts with other tech giants like Google, xAI, and OpenAI. OpenAI's tools have gained more traction in recent months within certain military departments.
Recent Development
The Pentagon's statement, in response to the BBC's query about Anthropic's use, revealed that it had completely ceased using Anthropic products, integrating them into its data platform, Maven Smart System, which is operated by Palantir.