Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance

Anthropic has refused the Department of Defense’s demands for unrestricted access to its AI, standing firm against the use of its technology for mass surveillance of Americans and the development of lethal autonomous weapons. This decision follows an ultimatum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to renegotiate existing contracts with AI labs, which OpenAI and xAI reportedly accepted. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with Hegseth but maintained the company’s red lines, stating that while AI is vital for defense, it shouldn’t undermine democratic values. The Pentagon has responded by assessing its reliance on Anthropic’s Claude and considering invoking the Defense Production Act, potentially designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk. Despite these threats, Anthropic remains resolute, offering a smooth transition to alternative providers if necessary, while continuing to propose expansive terms for its AI models.

(Source：The Verge)