Pentagon clashes with Anthropic over removing AI safeguards for autonomous weapons and surveillance
2 Sources
2 Sources
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Exclusive-Pentagon Clashes With Anthropic Over Military AI Use
By Deepa Seetharaman, David Jeans and Jeffrey Dastin WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The Pentagon and artificial-intelligence developer Anthropic are at odds over potentially eliminating safeguards that might allow the government to ā use its technology to target weapons autonomously and conduct U.S. domestic surveillance, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The discussions represent an early test case for whether Silicon Valley - in Washington's good ā graces after years of tensions - can sway how U.S. military and intelligence personnel deploy increasingly powerful AI on the battlefield. After weeks of contract talks, the U.S. Department of Defense and Anthropic are at a standstill, six people familiar with the matter said, on condition of anonymity. The company's position on how its AI tools can be used has intensified disagreements between it and the Trump administration, details of which have not been previously reported. (Reporting By Deepa Seetharaman and Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco and David Jeans in Washington, Editing by Franklin Paul)
[2]
Pentagon Clashes With Anthropic Over Military AI Use: Report
WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The Pentagon and artificial-intelligence developer Anthropic are at odds over potentially eliminating safeguards that might allow the government to use its technology to target weapons autonomously and conduct U.S. domestic surveillance, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The discussions represent an early test case for whether Silicon Valley - in Washington's good graces after years of tensions - can sway how U.S. military and intelligence personnel deploy increasingly powerful AI on the battlefield. After weeks of talks under a contract worth up to $200 million, the U.S. Department of Defense and Anthropic are at a standstill, six people familiar with the matter said, on condition of anonymity. The company's position on how its AI tools can be used has intensified disagreements between it and the Trump Administration, details of which have not been previously reported.
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The Pentagon and AI developer Anthropic have reached a standstill in contract negotiations worth up to $200 million. The dispute centers on eliminating safeguards that could enable autonomous weapons targeting and U.S. domestic surveillance. This clash marks a critical test case for Silicon Valley's influence over how military and intelligence agencies deploy advanced AI on the battlefield.
Pentagon and Anthropic Reach Standstill Over AI Safeguards
The Pentagon clashes with Anthropic have escalated into a full contract deadlock, with the U.S. Department of Defense and the AI developer locked in disagreement over the removal of safeguards that govern military AI use. According to Reuters, the dispute centers on whether Anthropic's AI technology could be used for autonomous weapons targeting and domestic surveillanceāapplications the company has historically restricted
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. After weeks of contract talks involving a deal worth up to $200 million, both parties remain at a standstill, with six people familiar with the matter confirming the impasse2
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Source: HuffPost
Silicon Valley's Influence on Military AI Deployment
This confrontation represents a critical test case for whether Silicon Valley's influence can shape how U.S. military and intelligence agencies deploy advanced AI on the battlefield. The discussions come at a time when tech companies have moved closer to Washington after years of tensions, making Anthropic's resistance particularly significant
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. The AI developer has maintained firm positions on how its AI tools can be used, intensifying disagreements with the Trump Administration in ways that have not been previously reported2
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What's at Stake for Military AI Applications
The core issue revolves around whether Anthropic will allow the government to use its technology without the ethical guardrails the company has built into its systems. The potential applications under discussionāautonomous weapons targeting and U.S. domestic surveillanceārepresent some of the most controversial uses of AI technology in national security contexts. For the Pentagon, access to cutting-edge AI tools without restrictions could accelerate military capabilities. For Anthropic, maintaining these safeguards aligns with the company's stated commitment to AI safety and responsible development. The outcome of these contract talks could set a precedent for how other AI developers negotiate with defense and intelligence agencies, potentially reshaping the relationship between tech companies and the national security establishment. As the standstill continues, observers are watching whether the Trump Administration will seek alternative AI providers or whether Anthropic will modify its position to secure the contract.
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