U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested a meeting with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss the military’s use of the company’s AI technology, Claude, as reported by Axios. The Pentagon is considering designating Anthropic as a ‘supply chain risk’ due to disagreements over the technology’s applications.
Anthropic, a provider of AI solutions, recently declined the Department of Defense’s request to use Claude for extensive surveillance and autonomous weapon development. Despite securing a $200 million contract with the DOD, tensions have heightened following Claude’s alleged involvement in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro during a special operations mission.
Sources indicate that Hegseth is presenting Amodei with a choice: comply with military demands or face potential consequences, including contract termination and abandonment by Pentagon affiliates. The implications of a ‘supply chain risk’ designation could lead to the complete removal of Claude from the defense ecosystem.
Source: TechCrunch