Anthropic 'made a mistake' in Pentagon talks and should 'correct course,' FCC boss says

Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, stated on CNBC that Anthropic has made an error in its interactions with the Department of Defense. This comment follows the recent decision by the U.S. government to blacklist the AI company after negotiations regarding a contract with the Pentagon reached an impasse. Anthropic was seeking assurances that its technology would not be utilized for fully autonomous weapons or for monitoring American citizens. However, the Department of Defense requested that Anthropic allow its models to be used in all lawful contexts, leading to stalled discussions. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, expressed that the company could not, in good conscience, agree to these terms. Carr emphasized that Anthropic's approach was misguided, noting that there are established protocols that apply to all technologies contracted by the Department of War. Following the blacklisting, President Donald Trump instructed all U.S. agencies to cease using Anthropic's technology. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further intensified the situation by categorizing Anthropic as a 'Supply-Chain Risk to National Security,' which prohibits any Pentagon collaborators from engaging with the firm. When asked about the possibility of Anthropic resuming work with the government, Carr advised that the company should take steps to rectify its position. He remarked that Anthropic had numerous opportunities to reach a mutually beneficial agreement but chose not to, which he considered a significant miscalculation. In response to its blacklisting, Anthropic expressed disappointment, arguing that the decision would not only be legally questionable but also set a troubling precedent for American companies negotiating with the government. The firm reiterated its commitment to supporting lawful AI applications for national security, while opposing mass surveillance and autonomous weaponry. Meanwhile, hours after Anthropic's designation, OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, announced that his company had successfully negotiated terms with the Department of Defense. However, he later reflected that OpenAI may have rushed into the deal, calling it 'opportunistic and sloppy,' and noted the revised agreement included specific language to prohibit domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens.