Anthropic sues the Pentagon. In the background there is a dispute over the use of AI on the battlefield

AI company Anthropic filed a lawsuit on Monday to block restrictions imposed on it by the Pentagon. The company is carrying out a contract for the Pentagon worth approximately $200 million, but has recently entered into a dispute with it, demanding that its technologies not be used for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.

The Pentagon on Thursday formally recognized that Anthropic poses a “supply chain threat”, prohibiting defense contractors from doing business with the company. This is the first time this classification – previously reserved for companies from China and other U.S. adversaries – was used against an American entity.

In a lawsuit filed on Monday in federal court in California, Anthropic called the decision unlawful and asked for it to be reversed and for federal authorities to be prevented from enforcing it.

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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth introduced the restrictions after Anthropic refused to remove protections that prevent its artificial intelligence systems from being used to produce autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of American citizens.

President Donald Trump joined in the criticism of Anthropic, calling it a “radical left-wing company” that wants to dictate to the government and army “how to fight and win wars.” He concluded that “left-wing lunatics” had made a “catastrophic mistake, they are trying to blackmail” the Pentagon and banned the use of Anthropic technology in government institutions.

The US Ministry of Defense and the White House emphasize that US law and government institutions, and not the internal regulations of a private company, must decide how to use artificial intelligence systems for military purposes.

Anthropic points out that even the best AI models are not reliable enough to be part of autonomous weapons and using them for this purpose would be dangerous.

The restrictions announced by the Pentagon are a severe blow to the company, which – according to experts – potentially threatens its existence.

Anthropic created the Claude AI model. According to the media, it was used in January during the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American troops, as well as during the ongoing war between the US and Israel against Iran. (PAP)

adj/rtt/