Defense Secretary summons Anthropic’s Amodei over military use of Claude

In a significant move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, to the Pentagon for a crucial meeting on Tuesday morning. This discussion centers around the military applications of Anthropic's AI model, Claude. The meeting is prompted by the Pentagon's threat to classify Anthropic as a 'supply chain risk,' a designation typically reserved for foreign adversaries. This escalation follows Anthropic's refusal to permit the Department of Defense to utilize its technology for mass surveillance of American citizens and the creation of autonomous weaponry. Last summer, Anthropic entered into a $200 million contract with the DOD, and Claude was reportedly utilized during a special operations raid on January 3, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This incident has highlighted the growing tensions between the AI company and military officials. According to sources, Hegseth is presenting Amodei with a stark ultimatum: cooperate with military interests or face significant consequences, including the potential nullification of their contract. The implications of a 'supply chain risk' designation are severe, as it would not only void Anthropic's agreement but also compel other partners within the Pentagon to abandon the use of Claude altogether. The outcome of this meeting could reshape the relationship between AI technology and military operations.