The artificial intelligence company Anthropic has publicly refused a demand from the US Department of Defense to agree to the military's terms for using its AI model, Claude. In a blog post on Tuesday, CEO Dario Amodei stated the company "cannot in good conscience accede" to the Pentagon's request.
The refusal came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum, threatening to blacklist the company if it did not cooperate. The standoff has ignited a significant debate among national security experts and former government officials about the role of private technology firms in military affairs.
Experts Weigh In on Unprecedented Standoff
Former US Air Force Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan, who led the Pentagon's AI efforts and now consults on AI for national security, defended Anthropic's position. He stated the company is not "trying to play cute here" and is "committed to helping the government."
In contrast, Palmer Luckey, founder of defence startup Anduril, referenced historical precedent. He posted on X about a 1948 executive order from President Harry S. Truman that compelled railway companies to allow military operation during a strike, suggesting the government has powers of compulsion.
Later, Luckey argued that "military policy must be in the hands of elected leaders vs corporate executive," calling this a foundational principle for his company, which holds multiple Defence Department contracts for drone and AI systems.
A "Different Level of Insane" Pentagon Strategy
Dean Ball, a former AI advisor to the Trump administration, offered a sharp critique of the Pentagon's approach in an interview with Politico. He accused the Defence Department of sending a contradictory message: telling other suppliers they cannot use Anthropic's models while simultaneously arguing the models are essential for military AI.
"You're telling everyone else who supplies to the DOD you cannot use Anthropic's models, while also saying that the DOD must use Anthropic's models," Ball said, labelling the dual actions "a whole different level of insane."
Praise for Principled Stance and High Stakes
The move has drawn praise from some quarters. Michael McFaul, former US Ambassador to Russia and a Stanford professor, called Amodei's statement "strong, principled, and very reasonable," writing "Bravo" in response.
Peter Wright, former senior director for strategic planning at the Biden administration's National Security Council, highlighted the significant financial risk Anthropic is taking. "Many firms folded for a lot less money than what Anthropic stands to lose here," he noted in a social media post.
Anduril, Luckey's company, is a major defence contractor and is currently competing to build the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft, drone wingmen for crewed fighter jets.