Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei calls OpenAI’s messaging around military deal ‘straight up lies,’ report says

Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, has expressed his frustration with Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, following the latter's recent military contract agreement. In a memo to his team, Amodei criticized OpenAI's engagement with the Department of Defense (DoD), labeling it as mere 'safety theater.' He emphasized that while OpenAI prioritized appeasing its employees, Anthropic was focused on preventing potential abuses of its technology. Recently, negotiations between Anthropic and the DoD fell through as the military sought unrestricted access to the AI firm's technology. Despite having a significant $200 million deal with the DoD, Anthropic insisted that any agreement must include assurances against the use of its AI for domestic surveillance or autonomous weaponry. Instead, OpenAI secured a contract with the DoD, with Altman asserting that their deal incorporates safeguards against the concerns raised by Anthropic. In his communication, Amodei accused Altman of misleading the public by portraying himself as a conciliatory figure in this dispute. He pointed out that OpenAI's assertions are misleading, as they have claimed their contract covers the same ethical boundaries that Anthropic sought to establish. The controversy has sparked significant public sentiment against OpenAI, evident in a staggering 295% increase in uninstalls of ChatGPT following the announcement of the military deal. Amodei noted that many view Anthropic as the more principled player in this situation, stating, 'People mostly see OpenAI’s deal with the DoD as sketchy or suspicious, and see us as the heroes.' He expressed concern about the impact of OpenAI's narrative on its own employees, highlighting the broader implications of their agreements in the tech industry.