Trump bans Anthropic from government as AI companies clash with Pentagon over weapons and surveillance
110 Sources
[1]
Trump moves to ban Anthropic from the US government
US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was instructing every federal agency to "immediately cease" use of Anthropic's AI tools. The move comes after Anthropic and top officials clashed for weeks over military applications of artificial intelligence. "The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic
[2]
No one has a good plan for how AI companies should work with the government | TechCrunch
As Sam Altman discovered Saturday night, it's a fraught time to do work for the U.S. government. Around 7 p.m., the OpenAI CEO announced he would be fielding questions publicly on X, as a way of demystifying his company's decision to pick up the Pentagon contract that Anthropic had just walked away
[3]
OpenAI's "compromise" with the Pentagon is what Anthropic feared
It's not yet clear if OpenAI can build in the safety precautions it promises as the military rushes out a politicized AI strategy during strikes on Iran, or if the deal will be seen as good enough by employees who wanted the company to take a harder line. Walking that tightrope will be tricky.
[4]
AIs can't stop recommending nuclear strikes in war game simulations
Leading AIs from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google opted to use nuclear weapons in simulated war games in 95 per cent of cases Advanced AI models appear willing to deploy nuclear weapons without the same reservations humans have when put into simulated geopolitical crises. Kenneth Payne at King's
[5]
Tech workers urge DOD, Congress to withdraw Anthropic label as a supply chain risk | TechCrunch
Hundreds of tech workers have signed an open letter urging the Department of Defense to withdraw its designation of Anthropic as a "supply chain risk." The letter also calls on Congress to step in and "examine whether the use of these extraordinary authorities against an American technology company
[6]
How OpenAI caved to the Pentagon on AI surveillance
On Friday evening, amidst fallout from a standoff between the Department of Defense and Anthropic, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that his own company had successfully negotiated new terms with the Pentagon. The US government had just moved to blacklist Anthropic for standing firm on two red lines
[7]
OpenAI shares more details about its agreement with the Pentagon | TechCrunch
By CEO Sam Altman's own admission, OpenAI's deal with the Department of Defense was "definitely rushed," and "the optics don't look good." After negotiations between Anthropic and the Pentagon fell through on Friday, President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's
[8]
OpenAI strikes deal with Pentagon following Claude blacklisting -- Anthropic to challenge supply chain risk designation in court
It's understood that the DoD has agreed to OpenAI's "red lines" on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced late Friday night that the company had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense ("rebranded" as the Department of War under the current
[9]
The Pentagon strongarmed AI firms before Iran strikes - in dark news for the future of 'ethical AI'
In the leadup to the weekend's US and Israeli attacks on Iran, the US Department of Defense was locked in tense negotiations with artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic over exactly how the Pentagon could use the firm's technology. Anthropic wanted guarantees its Claude systems would not
[10]
Altman Tells Staff OpenAI Has No Say Over Pentagon Decisions
Altman said "You do not get to make operational decisions," and is continuing to push for the Defense Department to abandon its designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk. OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman told employees that the company doesn't get to make the call about what the
[11]
OpenA says Pentagon set 'scary precedent' binning Anthropic
Signs a deal with Washington anyway, says he's kept control of killer robots by allowing only cloudy AI, with guardrails OpenAI has signed a deal with the United States Department of War (DoW) that allows use of its advanced AI systems in classified environments, and urged the Pentagon to make the
[12]
OpenAI amending deal with Pentagon, CEO Altman says
March 2 (Reuters) - OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said on Monday that the ChatGPT-maker is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to make some changes in their agreement. "We have been working with the DoW (Department of War) to make some additions in our agreement to make our principles
[13]
LLMs used tactical nuclear weapons in 95% of AI war games, launched strategic strikes three times -- researcher pitted GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4, and Gemini 3 Flash against each other, with at least one model using a tactical nuke in 20 out of 21 matches
Professor Kenneth Payne of King's College London just published a study where he pitted three AI LLMs -- GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4, and Gemini 3 Flash -- against each other in a series of simulated nuclear crisis games, with 20 out of 21 matches seeing at least one tactical nuclear weapon
[14]
Sam Altman tells OpenAI staffers that military's 'operational decisions' are up to the government
Open AI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a talk session with SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at an event titled "Transforming Business through AI" in Tokyo, on Feb. 3, 2025. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees in an all-hands meeting on Tuesday that the company doesn't "get to make operational
[15]
OpenAI will amend Defense Department deal to prevent mass surveillance in the US
OpenAI's Sam Altman said the company will amend its deal with the Defense Department (or the Department of War) to explicitly prohibit the use of its AI system on mass surveillance against Americans. Altman has published an internal memo previously sent to employees on X, telling them that the
[16]
What to know about the clash between the Pentagon and Anthropic over military's AI use
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A high-stakes dispute over military use of artificial intelligence erupted into public view this week as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brusquely terminated the Pentagon's work with Anthropic and other government agencies, using a law designed to counter foreign supply chain
[17]
OpenAI's Sam Altman announces Pentagon deal with 'technical safeguards'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced late on Friday that his company has reached an agreement allowing the Department of Defense to use its AI models in the department's classified network. This follows a high-profile standoff between the department -- also known under the Trump administration as the
[18]
US-Israel war with Iran: OpenAI changes deal with US after backlash
OpenAI says it is making changes to the "opportunistic and sloppy" deal it struck with the US government over the use of its technology in classified military operations. On Monday OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said the company planned to add language to its agreement, including explicitly
[19]
OpenAI revises Pentagon contract to curb mass surveillance, but critics warn of major loopholes
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. The big picture: OpenAI has backtracked on its controversial agreement with the Pentagon following significant backlash from users and privacy advocates. On Monday, CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that
[20]
Inside Anthropic's Killer-Robot Dispute With the Pentagon
Right up until the moment that Pete Hegseth moved to terminate the government's relationship with the AI company Anthropic, its leaders believed that they were still on track for a deal. The Pentagon had unilaterally insisted on renegotiating its contract with Anthropic, the company whose AI model
[21]
Opinion | If A.I. Is a Weapon, Who Should Control It?
Suppose that you had to die in a terrible artificial-intelligence-related cataclysm. Would you feel worse knowing that the path to destruction was smoothed by the hubris of Silicon Valley tech lords pursuing dreams of utopia and immortality -- or by the folly of Pentagon officials who give the A.I.
[22]
OpenAI CEO Says Pentagon Deal Looked 'Opportunistic and Sloppy'
The company plans to amend its deal to add language consistent with applicable laws, following a clash between the Pentagon and AI rival Anthropic PBC. OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said that the company's rush to forge a deal with the Defense Department -- following a clash between
[23]
AIs are happy to launch nukes in simulated combat scenarios
Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini all had different personalities and reasoning tactics, but the endgame was the same Today's hottest bots have yet to learn that, when it comes to global thermonuclear war, the only way to win is not to play. So please don't hand them the codes. Google's Gemini 3 Flash,
[24]
Facing Backlash, OpenAI Amends Pentagon Deal to Add More Anti-Surveillance Verbiage
When Katy Perry sides with your competitor, something's got to be done. News broke Monday night that OpenAI and the Pentagon have amended their controversial deal to include more words about privacy protections. According to reporting from Axios, the following lines were added: The significance
[25]
OpenAI details layered protections in US defense department pact
Feb 28 (Reuters) - OpenAI said on Saturday that the agreement it struck a day ago with the Pentagon to deploy technology on the U.S. defense department's classified network includes additional safeguards to protect its use cases. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday directed the government to
[26]
Pentagon assault on Anthropic sends shock waves across Silicon Valley
The Trump administration's declaration that AI company Anthropic would be cut off from all government contracts shook the tech industry late Friday, hardening political and cultural battle lines across Silicon Valley over military use of artificial intelligence. President Donald Trump ordered
[27]
OpenAI's Sam Altman admits 'rushed' deal with Defense Department after backlash
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addresses the gathering at the AI Impact Summit, in New Delhi, India, February 19, 2026. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Monday that the company "shouldn't have rushed" its recent deal with the U.S. Department of Defense and would make some revisions to the agreement. It came
[28]
Opinion | Real Despots Hijack Artificial Intelligence
A.I. is a teenager now, roaring into the world, testing limits, rebelling against authority, itching to usurp the old guard and remake the planet in its image. Unfortunately, Pete Hegseth is also a teenager. His hormones are raging; his judgment is shaky. Like a repentant frat boy, he had to
[29]
OpenAI Leadership Defends Deal With Pentagon as Employees Wait in Limbo
Within the span of a few hours on Friday, the Pentagon dropped its deal with Anthropic after the latter refused to budge on safety guardrails regarding the use of its AI in surveillance or fully autonomous weapons without human oversight, then designated the company as a supply chain risk, before
[30]
OpenAI Steps Over a Red Line Anthropic Refused to Cross
After announcing a sudden and surprising deal with the Pentagon, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman moved quickly this weekend to show he had won meaningful concessions from military leaders. He hadn't. Whether through naivete or disregard, Altman has quickly leaped over the ethical and practical red
[31]
OpenAI updates Department of War deal after backlash
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the company rushed its recent deal with the U.S. Department of War (DOW), admitting that it appeared "opportunistic and sloppy." In an internal memo he subsequently shared on X, Altman stated that OpenAI is now amending its agreement to supply the military with AI
[32]
Don't bet that the Pentagon - or Anthropic - is acting in the public interest | Bruce Schneier and Nathan E Sanders
The lesson here isn't that one AI company is more ethical than another. It's that we must renovate our democratic structures OpenAI is in and Anthropic is out as a supplier of AI technology for the US defense department. This news caps a week of bluster by the highest officials in the US
[33]
Ex-NSA leader, OpenAI board member calls out Anthropic-Pentagon fight
Why it matters: Designating just one American AI company as a risk could dismantle the Pentagon's decades of work to build trust across Silicon Valley, he warned. What they're saying: "This is not a good space for our nation," Nakasone said at the Aspen Institute's Crosscurrent conference in
[34]
'Today, frontier AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons' -- Anthropic CEO on why it won't agree to Pete Hegseth's scary request
"Lethal autonomous weapons threaten to become the third revolution in warfare. Once developed, they will permit armed conflict to be fought at a scale greater than ever, and at timescales faster than humans can comprehend." That's not a quote from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refusing to accede to
[35]
Sam Altman Admits He's Made a Huge Mistake
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech OpenAI CEO Sam Altman went into full damage control mode over the weekend. A day before the United States attacked Iran, the embattled CEO announced that the company had signed a new agreement with the Pentagon over how its AI
[36]
OpenAI's Pentagon deal raises new questions about AI and surveillance | Fortune
On Friday, just hours after publicly backing rival Anthropic for standing firm against the Pentagon's demands, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced his company had struck its own deal with the Pentagon. The move came shortly after the US government had taken the highly unusual step of designating
[37]
OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and the fog of AI war
On Friday afternoon, President Trump ordered every federal agency to stop using Anthropic's AI technology. That evening, the Pentagon labeled the company a supply-chain risk, a designation that's normally reserved for Chinese firms suspected of espionage and means it could force any company doing
[38]
OpenAI Claims Safety 'Red Lines' in Pentagon Deal -- But Users Aren't Buying It - Decrypt
The controversy sparked the QuitGPT movement and drove a surge in Claude downloads. OpenAI said this weekend that it reached an agreement with the Pentagon to deploy advanced AI systems in classified environments, marking a significant expansion of the company's work with the U.S. military. The
[39]
Opinion | Why Did Trump Go to War With Anthropic?
The Trump administration waged its latest war of choice this week when it tried to coerce the tech company Anthropic into giving the military a blank check in how it uses the company's artificial intelligence technology. The confrontation sharply escalated on Tuesday when Defense Secretary Pete
[40]
'We shouldn't have rushed to get this out on Friday': OpenAI hastily amends the terms of its controversial deal with the US Department of War as CEO Sam Altman claims it's been a 'good learning experience'
"We want to have a voice, and a seat at the table where we can share our expertise, and to fight for principles of liberty." After a very public falling out between Anthropic and the US Department of War late last week -- in which the former refused to remove safeguards preventing its AI tools
[41]
OpenAI alters deal with Pentagon as critics sound alarm over surveillance
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman unveiled a reworked agreement with the Pentagon Monday night governing the Defense Department's use of its AI services, which he says provides stronger guarantees that the military won't use OpenAI's systems for domestic surveillance. The new agreement states that "the AI
[42]
Can Anthropic survive taking on Trump's Pentagon?
Washington (United States) (AFP) - In an unprecedented dispute between the US government and a private business, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk -- a measure usually reserved for companies from adversary nations, like China's Huawei. The
[43]
AI executive Dario Amodei on the red lines Anthropic would not cross
"It's about the principle of standing up for what's right," said Dario Amodei, CEO of the artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, who has found himself at the center of a new kind of firestorm. What's wrong, in his view, is why the AI company he co-founded has been banned from the federal
[44]
Sam Altman Is Marketing OpenAI as America's Wartime AI Company Whether He Intends to or Not
In an X post Friday evening, Sam Altman announced that his company, OpenAI, had just “reached an agreement with the Department of War to deploy our models in their classified network.†The timing is both startling and significant, making Altman a sort of poster boy for AI at war. Hours earlier,
[45]
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responds to deal with Department of War
OpenAI has entered a deal with the U.S. Department of War (DOW), providing its AI tools for military use in "classified environments." Announcing the partnership on Saturday, the ChatGPT developer claims it includes guardrails prohibiting the use of its technology for mass domestic surveillance or
[46]
OpenAI amends Pentagon deal as Sam Altman admits it looks 'sloppy'
ChatGPT owner's CEO says it will bar its technology being used for mass surveillance or by intelligence services OpenAI is amending its hastily arranged deal to supply artificial intelligence to the US Department of War (DoW) after the ChatGPT owner's chief executive admitted it looked
[47]
Anthropic vs. White House puts $60 billion at risk
Why it matters: That massive investment is now at risk due to a contract dispute with the Pentagon that's become as much about ego as AI. Catch up quick: Anthropic and the Defense Department on Friday failed to reach agreement on a long-term deal for the military to continue licensing Anthropic's
[48]
The Pentagon Is Waging War on American Genius
The Department of War is living up to its rebranded name. Unfortunately, its target is a vital American company. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei until today at 5:01 p.m. to remove two restrictions on how the military uses the company's AI.
[49]
"Opportunistic and sloppy" - buyer's regret from CEO Sam Altman as OpenAI's deal with the Department of War comes under heavy fire?
OpenAI was wrong to rush into its deal with the US Department of War (DoW), admits CEO Sam Altman, and looked 'opportunistic and sloppy" as a result. It's a startling mea culpa from Altman - "Good learning experience for me as we face higher-stakes decisions in the future" - and one triggered
[50]
OpenAI revises Pentagon contract to address surveillance concerns - SiliconANGLE
OpenAI revises Pentagon contract to address surveillance concerns OpenAI Group PBC is revising an artificial intelligence deal that it inked with the U.S. Defense Department last year. The ChatGPT developer published some of the updated legal language late Monday. The change is designed to ensure
[51]
Anthropic gets so much public support after Trump blacklisting that it crashes the Claude app
Anthropic may have lost a fan in Donald Trump, but it seems to have gained plenty of new ones after refusing to make a deal with the United States government, citing ethics concerns. The AI company was embroiled in debate with the Department of Defense (DoD), which has been using Anthropic's
[52]
Anthropic sees major Claude outages after 'unprecedented demand'
As the US administration proceeds to drop Anthropic as a supplier, many are rallying around the AI company's relatively ethical stance, creating 'unprecedented demand' for Claude. Anthropic's Claude has been fast becoming the darling of the AI enthusiasts, for development, research and enterprise
[53]
Sam Altman in Damage Control Mode as ChatGPT Users Are Mass Cancelling Subscriptions Because OpenAI Is "Training a War Machine"
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech OpenAI just handed one of its biggest rivals a massive PR victory, in a blunder that even CEO Sam Altman admitted had optics that "don't look good." On Friday, Altman announced that OpenAI had reached a new agreement with the
[54]
Amid growing backlash, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explains why he cut a deal with the Pentagon following Anthropic blacklisting | Fortune
OpenAI faced a vocal backlash for agreeing to the Pentagon deal after Altman had earlier in the week voiced support for Anthropic's position that it would not accept a Pentagon contract that did not contain explicit prohibitions on its AI technology being used for mass surveillance of U.S. citizens
[55]
Trump's furious response to Anthropic is as much about power as it is about AI safety
In the most clear and consequential policy move on AI safety yet, the Trump administration has announced it will blacklist a leading AI lab over its refusal to allow unfettered access to its technology for military purposes. It is the president and his secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, going nuclear
[56]
Anthropic's AI Used in Iran Strikes After Trump Moved to Cut Ties: WSJ - Decrypt
OpenAI made a deal with the Pentagon following Anthropic's fallout. Hours after President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to halt use of Anthropic's AI tools, the U.S. military carried out a major airstrike on Iran that reportedly relied on the company's Claude platform. U.S. Central
[57]
How talks between Anthropic and the Defense Dept. fell apart
SAN FRANCISCO -- Minutes before a 5:01 p.m. deadline Friday, Emil Michael, the Defense Department's chief technology officer, was fuming. For weeks, Michael, a former top executive at Uber, had been negotiating a $200 million artificial intelligence contract with the AI company Anthropic for the
[58]
OpenAI strikes Pentagon deal as Trump blacklists rival Anthropic
OpenAI announced a deal to deploy its models in classified environments for the Department of Defense. President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's technology after negotiations between Anthropic and the Pentagon fell through. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
[59]
Anthropic CEO Slams Pentagon Decision As 'Unprecedented'
The company was the first to deploy its AI models on classified US military cloud networks, according to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. The CEO of AI company Anthropic, Dario Amodei, has responded to the United States Department of Defense and the White House, ordering military defense contractors
[60]
Silicon Valley Rallies Behind Anthropic in A.I. Clash With Trump
Sheera Frenkel and Cade Metz reported from San Francisco and Julian Barnes from Washington. Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, said in a memo to employees this week that "we have long believed that A.I. should not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons." More than 100
[61]
Anthropic CEO says he's sticking to AI "red lines" despite clash with Pentagon
Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. Hours after a bitter feud between the Pentagon and Anthropic ended with the Trump administration cutting off the artificial intelligence startup, Anthropic CEO
[62]
OpenAI to work with Pentagon after Anthropic dropped by Trump over company's ethics concerns
OpenAI said it had struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply AI to classified US military networks, hours after Donald Trump ordered the government to stop using the services of one of the company's main competitors. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, announced the move on Friday night. It came after an
[63]
OpenAI-Pentagon deal faces same safety concerns that plagued Anthropic talks
Why it matters: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and the Pentagon's lead AI negotiator Emil Michael all say they care about civil liberties, but disagree on whether the law today offers enough protections for AI use. * Altman was asked thousands of questions about his contract
[64]
OpenAI goes on defense as Anthropic surges after Pentagon fallout
OpenAI goes on defense as Anthropic surges after Pentagon fallout OpenAI is in the hot seat this week over the artificial intelligence company's new deal with the Pentagon, struck just hours after the agency's negotiations with competitor Anthropic over safety guardrails fell apart. The response
[65]
What the Pentagon Has Done to Anthropic Should Make Every Founder Nervous
In one sense, this is not much of a surprise, because it fits into a broader pattern of behavior at the Trump administration, which over the past year has made it clear that it sees businesses as basically servants of the government. You can see that in its substantive policies-taking a "golden
[66]
OpenAI Details Layered Protections in US Defense Department Pact
Feb 28 (Reuters) - OpenAI said on Saturday that the agreement it struck a day ago with the Pentagon to deploy technology on the U.S. defense department's classified network includes additional safeguards to protect its use cases. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday directed the government to
[67]
I Never Would've Guessed the Skynet Problem Would Come Before the Mass Layoffs
You may have heard that the Department of Defense and Anthropic are fighting over the AI company's guardrails for Claude. Every day brings fresh leaks, and now, the Washington Post is reporting that the Pentagon allegedly presented a scenario involving a nuclear missile attack against the U.S. as a
[68]
What Dario Amodei wouldn't do, Sam Altman would! Here's why the OpenAI CEO signed a deal with the US Department of War - and why he wants you to visit him in jail if things go wrong...
Dario Amodei wasn't able to agree to the US Department of War's (DoW) demands when it came to using Anthropic's AI; OpenAI's Sam Altman could - and in pretty rapid time too. So what is that's in OpenAI's deal that apparently makes this possible, given that at first glance they look very alike? In
[69]
Anthropic Blowout With Military Involved Use of Claude for Incoming Nuclear Strike
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech Anthropic's ongoing battle with the Pentagon over the military's use of its AI systems flared up this week around a hypothetical nuclear strike scenario, according to new reporting from the Washington Post. The Claude AI builder
[70]
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says 'we are patriotic Americans' committed to defending the U.S. but won't budge on 'red lines' | Fortune
President Donald Trump has accused Anthropic of endangering troops and jeopardizing national security, but CEO Dario Amodei said his company is patriotic. In an interview with CBS News soon after Trump ordered the federal government to stop working with Anthropic, Amodei pointed out that the AI
[71]
AI willing to 'go nuclear' in wargames, study finds - amid 'stand-off' between Pentagon and leading AI lab
As the deadline looms for a leading AI lab to hand over its tech to the US military, a study has appeared suggesting AI models are more than willing to go nuclear in wargames. Only a couple of years ago, the phrase on everyone's lips was "AI safety". I'll be honest, I never took the idea that
[72]
OpenAI, Google and Anthropic AI Models Deployed Nuclear Weapons in 95% of War Simulations - Decrypt
Researchers warn AI use may escalate conflicts under pressure. Like a scene out of the 1980s sci-fi classic films "The Terminator" and "WarGames," modern artificial intelligence models used in simulated war games escalated to nuclear weapons in nearly every scenario tested, according to new
[73]
Sam Altman Caught in Fallout From Dario Amodei's Pentagon Standoff
Sam Altman admits rushing OpenAI's Pentagon deal as backlash fuels a surge for Anthropic's Claude and sparks employee revolt. Sure, Sam Altman managed to secure an agreement between OpenAI and the U.S. Department of War amid Anthropic's public battles with the agency. But in doing so, he may have
[74]
Sam Altman tells staff OpenAI has no say over Pentagon decisions - The Economic Times
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman told employees the company does not get to decide how the Department of Defense (DoD) uses its artificial intelligence software. He said the Pentagon will hear OpenAI's expertise but will not allow it to make operational decisions, following tensions with
[75]
OpenAI adds protections to Pentagon deal
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Monday that the company has added further protections to its agreement with the Pentagon to bring its AI models to the military's classified network. The latest additions come as the ChatGPT maker faced pushback over the deal, which came on the heels of the Trump
[76]
AI really likes using nuclear weapons in simulated war scenarios. Here's why
Why it matters: Militaries are already using AI for decision support -- and research suggests those systems may lean into rapid escalation under pressure. What they're saying: "No one is giving a chatbot the keys to missile silos," the study's author, Kenneth Payne at King's College London, tells
[77]
OpenAI revises Pentagon deal after backlash
OpenAI has amended its agreement with the US Department of Defense following criticism over the potential use of its AI tools in classified military operations. Chief executive Sam Altman said the company would explicitly prohibit its systems from being used for domestic surveillance of Americans
[78]
Sam Altman Reveals OpenAI's Urgent Shift To Classified Pentagon Projects
On Sunday, Sam Altman said OpenAI has moved beyond limiting itself to unclassified projects and is now willing to take on classified work with the Department of War, describing the shift as urgent and far more complicated than earlier efforts. The change comes after OpenAI reached a Pentagon
[79]
OpenAI gives Pentagon AI model access after Anthropic dustup
OpenAI has agreed to deploy its own artificial intelligence models within the Defense Department's classified network after rival Anthropic saw its relationship with the Pentagon implode over surveillance and autonomous weapons concerns. OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said late Friday
[80]
Something Very Alarming Happens When You Give AI the Nuclear Codes
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech In 2024, Stanford researchers let loose five AI models -- including an unmodified version of OpenAI's GPT-4, its most advanced at the time -- allowing them to make high-stakes, society-level decisions in a series of wargame
[81]
OpenAI sweeps in to snag Pentagon contract after Anthropic labeled 'supply chain risk' in unprecedented move | Fortune
OpenAI announced late Friday it reached a deal for the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after the U.S. government designated OpenAI arch-rival Anthropic a "supply chain risk" in a move that threatens to deal a serious blow to Anthropic's business. Legal and policy
[82]
AI in defense: How Anthropic, OpenAI are helping the US, Israel shape modern warfare
Could the secret weapon behind the success of the recent joint Israeli-American military operation in Iran, which resulted in the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, be the same chatbot millions use every day? According to a report by the Wall Street
[83]
How talks between Anthropic and the Defence department fell apart
Days before a Friday. deadline, Emil Michael pushed to finalise a $200 million AI contract between the Pentagon and Anthropic, but disputes over lawful surveillance and guardrails stalled negotiations. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a security risk. OpenAI, led by Sam Altman,
[84]
OpenAI Says Military Will Not Use Tech for Surveillance or Weaponry | PYMNTS.com
OpenAI announced its partnership soon after the Pentagon said it would cut ties with rival artificial intelligence (AI) startup Anthropic. OpenAI was able to get the government to agree not to use its technology for mass domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons, two points of contention, or
[85]
Anthropic CEO defends AI 'red lines' after U.S. government ban (ANTHRO:Private)
Anthropic (ANTHRO) CEO Dario Amodei said his company is being punished for refusing to loosen restrictions on how its artificial intelligence can be used by the U.S. military. After weeks of talks, President Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's The U.S. government canceled
[86]
Pentagon stuns Silicon Valley with Anthropic ban
The Trump administration's decision to cut off the government's use of Anthropic and label the company a supply chain risk after a dispute over AI safeguards is sending shock waves through Silicon Valley. The rupture with Anthropic followed weeks of tense negotiations with the Pentagon over the
[87]
OpenAI strikes Pentagon deal after Trump cuts off Anthropic
OpenAI has reached an agreement with the US Department of Defense to provide AI systems for classified military networks, just hours after Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using technology from rival firm Anthropic. This places OpenAI at the center of a growing dispute between the
[88]
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Defends Startup After Trump Blacklists Claude For Government Agencies, Says 'We Are Patriotic Americans:' Report
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Sunday defended the AI startup, emphasizing the company's patriotic stance, after President Donald Trump blacklisted Claude for government agencies. Dario Defends Anthropic's Patriotic Credentials In an interview with CBS News, Amodei stated that Anthropic was the
[89]
Anthropic Gains Public Support as Claude Installs Spike; ChatGPT Sees Massive Uninstalls
The Pentagon's shenanigans of replacing Anthropic with OpenAI as the official AI partner for all things Federal in the United States seems to have boomeranged in the short term for Sam Altman. Yesterday, the Claude chatbot was ranked No.1 on the iOS free app rankings - up from No.131 in late
[90]
OpenAI Inks Deal With Pentagon Amid Anthropic Clash | PYMNTS.com
By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. This agreement will see OpenAI deploy its models on the U.S. Department of
[91]
OpenAI: Pentagon deal has stronger guardrails than Anthropic's
Open AI firm said that the contract struck on Friday to deploy technology in the U.S. Defense Department's classified network enforces three red lines: no use of OpenAI technology on mass domestic surveillance, no directing autonomous weapons systems and no high-stakes automated
[92]
OpenAI signs US military deal hours after govt bans Anthropic Use
OpenAI has announced an agreement with the United States (US) Department of War (DOW) to deploy its AI systems in classified environments. The company disclosed the deal on February 28, stating that it will provide advanced AI models to support the department's operations under a defined
[93]
Pentagon reaches deal with OpenAI amid Anthropic beef
The Pentagon has reached a deal with OpenAI to use its AI models on the military's classified network, after the Trump administration ordered all agencies to stop using Anthropic's artificial intelligence tools. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said late Friday that the Defense Department (DOD) agreed to
[94]
OpenAI's Sam Altman fends off 'painful' backlash to Pentagon AI deal...
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scrambling to head off a backlash over the tech giant's deal with the Pentagon -- defending it in front of workers at a tense all-hands meeting on Tuesday after protesters outside its San Francisco headquarters urged employees to quit, The Post has learned. The AI company
[95]
OpenAI amending deal with Pentagon, CEO Altman says
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said on Monday that the ChatGPT-maker is working with the U.S. Department of Defence to make some changes in their agreement. "We have been working with the DoW (Department of War) to make some additions in our agreement to make our principles very clear," Altman
[96]
AI War Games Raise Alarm: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini Lean Toward Nukes
AI War Games Spark Alarm as Top Chatbots Lean Toward Nuclear Strikes, Revealed by King's College Study Artificial intelligence systems, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, have been showing a new and disturbing pattern. Controversies around AI chatbots reached a new high with the most popular
[97]
Get Out Anthropic, Hello OpenAI - This Pentagon Shift Raises Questions Over Ethical AI Use
The issue is about what Anthropic sees and what OpenAI does not want to see in the contracts with the Pentagon and others It was a weekend when AI headlines changed forever - from the mundane concerns around inference spending, query costs datacentre-led desertification to some real life use-cases
[98]
OpenAI CEO defends Pentagon deal amid staff, industry backlash - WSJ By Investing.com
Investing.com -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed employee concerns on Tuesday regarding the company's decision to permit Pentagon use of its artificial intelligence tools for classified operations. The company disclosed its Defense Department agreement on Friday, the same day Defense Secretary
[99]
What to know about the clash between the Pentagon and Anthropic over military's AI use - The Economic Times
President Donald Trump and Hegseth accused rising AI star Anthropic of endangering national security after its CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company's products could be used for mass surveillance or autonomous armed drones.A high-stakes dispute over military use of
[100]
Former Trump AI adviser calls Anthropic decision 'attempted corporate murder'
One of President Trump's former senior artificial intelligence advisers is sharply criticizing the Defense Department's ongoing feud with AI company Anthropic. In a post on social media platform X, Dean Ball said companies like Nvidia, Amazon and Google "will have to divest from Anthropic" if
[101]
Shall we play a game? AI systems more ready to drop nukes in...
Real life AI systems are turning out to be as bloodthirsty as the machine from movie "WarGames" -- as they have proved more willing to use nuclear bombs during test conflicts than their human counterparts, a new "unsettling" study suggests. Three top AI models -- GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4 and
[102]
OpenAI on Pentagon's clash with Anthropic: Here's all that Sam Altman said after signing the deal
OpenAI's defence deal, which followed Anthropic being labelled a supply chain risk, has intensified scrutiny of the AI industry's ties with the military. Responding to criticism for signing the deal, chief executive Sam Altman said that while the government's move is disturbing, OpenAI's layered
[103]
OpenAI details layered protections in US defense department pact
Feb 28 (Reuters) - OpenAI said on Saturday that the agreement it struck a day ago with the Pentagon to deploy technology on the U.S. defense department's classified network includes additional safeguards to protect its use cases. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday directed the government to
[104]
'Any breach of contract could trigger a termination': OpenAI's layered protections in US defence department pact - The Economic Times
OpenAI has finalised a deal with the Pentagon for its technology on classified networks. This agreement includes significant safeguards for its use. Earlier, Anthropic was declared a supply-chain risk by the Pentagon. OpenAI stated its deal has more guardrails than any previous classified AI
[105]
Pentagon vs Anthropic: Who should control the AI weapon?
A major clash is unfolding between the US Pentagon and AI firm Anthropic. The government wants unrestricted access to Anthropic's AI models, while the company insists on ethical constraints. This dispute raises fundamental questions about AI control and safety. The outcome could shape the future of
[106]
Anthropic vs Pentagon: The Trump administration is waging war on American genius
The US administration has barred government agencies from using AI tools made by Anthropic after a dispute over military access to its technology. The Pentagon also labelled the company a "supply chain risk," a step that could block defence contractors from working with it. The Department of War
[107]
OpenAI scientist says Pentagon deal not worth it amid growing backlash
OpenAI leadership remains split, with Sam Altman defending safeguards while some employees voice concern. OpenAI has been under fire for its recent agreement with the US Department of War. This has sparked backlash from some users and drawn mixed reactions internally. The controversy comes after
[108]
After Anthropic controversy, OpenAI revises Pentagon deal terms, plans to add stronger anti-surveillance clauses: All details
The row raised wider concerns about AI, government contracts, and civil liberties. Sam Altman now understands why Anthropic wanted the terms and conditions of its deal with the United States Department of Justice to be carefully shaped. What began as a disagreement over how government agencies
[109]
OpenAI defended Anthropic in its feud with US govt: Here's how
More than 750 employees at Google and OpenAI signed an open letter this week telling their bosses, plainly, not to cave. The letter went up at notdivided.org. It had no corporate backing, no PR team, no official blessing. Just researchers and engineers from two companies that compete fiercely with
[110]
AI goes rogue? Study claims Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT obsessed with nuclear arms
Researchers say the findings show why strong human oversight is essential when using AI in critical decisions. Artificial intelligence is developing at a rate that has surprised many experts. Today's AI can write code to enhance its own performance, engage in conversations that sound like human
Share
Copy Link
President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's AI tools after the company refused to give the Pentagon unrestricted access to its technology. The dispute centers on Anthropic's refusal to allow its AI models to be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. OpenAI quickly stepped in to fill the void, raising questions about how AI companies should balance ethical boundaries with national security demands.
Trump Orders Federal Ban on Anthropic After Pentagon Standoff
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was instructing every federal agency to "immediately cease" use of Anthropic's AI tools, marking an unprecedented escalation in tensions between Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense
1
. The move follows weeks of conflict over military applications of artificial intelligence, with Anthropic refusing to remove contractual restrictions that prevent its technology from being used for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons1
.
Source: ET
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei earlier in the week, giving the company until Friday to commit to changing the terms of its contract to allow "all lawful use" of its models
1
. When Amodei refused, Trump announced a six-month phase-out period for agencies using Anthropic, while Hegseth threatened to designate the company as a supply chain risk designation—a label typically reserved for foreign adversaries that would effectively blacklist Anthropic from working with any agency or company doing business with the Pentagon5
.OpenAI Steps In as Industry Debates Ethical Red Lines
Within hours of Trump's announcement, OpenAI revealed it had reached a deal to deploy its AI models in the Department of Defense's classified environments, filling the void left by Anthropic
2
. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, held a public Q&A on X Saturday night, fielding questions about the company's willingness to work with the military on activities Anthropic had ruled out2
.
Source: PYMNTS
Altman claimed OpenAI maintains the same ethical boundaries of AI as Anthropic regarding mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons, but took a different contractual approach
3
. Rather than seeking specific prohibitions in the contract, OpenAI cited applicable laws and policies, including a 2023 Pentagon directive on autonomous weapons and the Fourth Amendment3
. The company says it will embed ethical red lines directly into model behavior rather than relying solely on contractual language3
.However, critics argue this approach offers weaker protections. Jessica Tillipman, associate dean for government procurement law studies at George Washington University, noted that OpenAI's published contract excerpt "does not give OpenAI an Anthropic-style, free-standing right to prohibit otherwise-lawful government use"
3
.Tech Workers Rally Behind Anthropic as Industry Fractures
Hundreds of tech workers from major companies including OpenAI, Google, IBM, and Slack signed an open letter urging the Department of Defense to withdraw its supply chain risk designation of Anthropic and calling on Congress to examine whether using such extraordinary authorities against an American company is appropriate
5
. The letter warns that "punishing an American company for declining to accept changes to a contract sends a clear message to every technology company in America: accept whatever terms the government demands, or face retaliation"5
.The dispute represents a critical test for AI companies and government collaboration as the industry transitions from consumer products to national security infrastructure
2
. Anthropic was the first major AI lab to work with the US military through a $200 million deal signed with the Pentagon last year, creating custom models known as Claude Gov with fewer restrictions than regular versions1
.Related Stories
AI in War Gaming Raises Urgent Questions About Military AI
The controversy arrives amid troubling research about AI in national security contexts. A recent study by Kenneth Payne at King's College London found that leading AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google deployed nuclear weapons in 95 per cent of simulated war games
4
. The AI models played 21 games involving intense international standoffs, and when one AI deployed tactical nuclear weapons, the opposing AI only de-escalated 18 per cent of the time4
.
Source: Digit
"The nuclear taboo doesn't seem to be as powerful for machines [as] for humans," Payne noted, adding that AI models may not understand "stakes" as humans perceive them
4
. This matters because major powers are already using AI in war gaming, though the extent to which they incorporate AI decision support into actual military decision-making remains uncertain4
.Boaz Barak, an OpenAI researcher, wrote that blocking governments from using AI for mass surveillance should be everyone's "personal red line," urging the industry to treat government abuse and surveillance as a catastrophic risk requiring the same rigorous evaluations and mitigations applied to bioweapons and cybersecurity threats
5
.References
Summarized by
Navi
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
Related Stories
Anthropic stands firm against Pentagon's demand for unrestricted military AI access
21 Feb 2026•Policy and Regulation
OpenAI Partners with Defense Contractor Anduril, Sparking Ethical Debate
05 Dec 2024•Technology
Anthropic and Pentagon clash over AI safeguards as $200 million contract hangs in balance
12 Feb 2026•Policy and Regulation
Recent Highlights
1
OpenAI's AI Math Breakthrough on Navier-Stokes Equations Sparks Major Attribution Controversy
Science and Research
2
Anthropic Researcher Quits, Warns Self-Improving AI Poses Existential Risk to Humanity
Policy and Regulation
3
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Declares AGI Has Arrived With OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Release
Technology
Recent Highlights
Today's Top Stories
Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Follow topics that matter to you and stay ahead.
