Anthropic's post-Pentagon resistance surge is fading

Interest in Anthropic, the AI startup known for its Claude model, is beginning to cool off after a period of rapid growth. Recent analysis from Business Insider shows that following a notable surge in downloads during a contract dispute with the Pentagon, the momentum has plateaued. Appfigures, an app intelligence firm, indicates that ChatGPT has surpassed Claude in estimated daily downloads in the U.S. Apple and Google Play stores, marking a shift from the brief period when Anthropic enjoyed a leading position. This surge for Anthropic had coincided with a moment of vulnerability for OpenAI, as CEO Sam Altman described a hurried agreement with the Pentagon that led to a significant backlash. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had raised concerns, labeling Anthropic as a national security risk. According to Kara Lee, a digital analyst at Sensor Tower, Claude's download rate has been declining, averaging a 2% decrease day-over-day as of late March, while ChatGPT has seen a slight uptick of 1%. However, it's not all doom and gloom for Anthropic. The company has maintained a much higher interest level compared to early February, when Claude was not even listed among the top 40 free apps in the Apple App Store. By the end of last week, Claude had climbed to the second position, just behind ChatGPT. Additionally, data from Similarweb shows a continual increase in daily active users, with a remarkable 166% boost in downloads since February. Despite the challenges, Anthropic is focusing on the enterprise sector, which CEO Dario Amodei believes offers a more sustainable business model compared to consumer-focused approaches. At a recent DealBook summit, he emphasized the advantages of their business strategy, including better margins and a more responsible approach to AI deployment. While public interest surged, Anthropic is grappling with concerns over its enterprise business, particularly due to the potential financial impact of the national security designation. The company has taken legal action against the Pentagon and the Trump administration, seeking to overturn the classification as a 'supply chain risk.' Meanwhile, President Trump has mandated that federal agencies stop utilizing Anthropic's products within six months. Despite these hurdles, Anthropic is still pursuing collaborations with the federal government. Reports have surfaced indicating that Claude is being utilized by the U.S. military for operations in Iran. Recently, a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily halted the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a national security risk, allowing for an appeal by the Justice Department. Nevertheless, the rapid growth has put pressure on Anthropic, prompting adjustments to usage limits to manage demand during peak times. Thariq Shihipar, a team member working on Claude, acknowledged the frustrations users have experienced and reassured them that the company is committed to scaling its operations.