Anthropic can be of ‘great use,’ says Donald Trump despite Pentagon ban

In a surprising turn of events, US President Donald Trump conveyed a hopeful outlook on the future of Anthropic, the artificial intelligence firm currently under scrutiny by the Pentagon. His remarks came after a directive issued in February that prohibited government collaborations with the company, which had been flagged as a potential supply-chain risk. Following this, Anthropic took a bold step by filing a lawsuit against the Department of Defense in March, contesting its designation. In a bid to improve relations, CEO Dario Amodei engaged in discussions with White House officials on March 17, a meeting described by the administration as both productive and constructive. “They came to the White House a few days ago, and we had some very good talks with them,” Trump shared during an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box. He expressed confidence in the potential contributions of Anthropic, stating, “I think they’re shaping up. They’re very smart, and I think they can be of great use. I like smart people ... I think we’ll get along with them just fine.” When queried about the possibility of a deal with the Pentagon, Trump responded, “It’s possible. We want the smartest people.” Anthropic has previously indicated that the White House meeting centered on mutual priorities, such as cybersecurity and AI safety, hinting at a potential thaw in relations. Notably, Anthropic recently unveiled Mythos, touted as a cutting-edge AI tool designed to detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities. However, access to the Claude Mythos Preview will be limited, as the company has opted to launch Project Glasswing, inviting select tech firms and cybersecurity experts for a private review. Co-founder Jack Clark mentioned that discussions with the Trump administration about Mythos are ongoing but refrained from providing further details. Despite Trump's earlier characterization of Anthropic as part of “the radical left,” the company faced challenges with the administration after seeking clarity on the non-surveillance applications of its AI tools. The Pentagon's blacklisting imposed a six-month restriction on the use of Anthropic's AI by Defense Department personnel, with limited exceptions for national security purposes. Recently, a federal appeals court in Washington, DC, upheld the Pentagon's decision to blacklist Anthropic, marking a significant victory for the Trump administration amidst varying outcomes in prior legal challenges faced by the company.