Pentagon asks defence contractors about reliance on Anthropic’s AI services, source says
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The US Department of Defense has been engaged in a months-long dispute with AI service provider Anthropic.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon has asked defence contractors to assess their reliance on Anthropic, a person familiar with the matter said on Feb 25, ahead of its deadline on Feb 27 for the AI service provider to respond to a request to eliminate safeguards.
The Department of Defense has been engaged in a months-long dispute with Anthropic,
Talks are continuing after a meeting between US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Anthropic chief executive officer Dario Amodei.
During the meeting, Mr Hegseth said if Anthropic did not comply, the Pentagon would take action against it, with options including labelling it a supply-chain risk or invoking a law that would force Anthropic to change its rules, Reuters reported.
The Department of Defense has given Anthropic until 5pm Eastern time on Feb 27 (6am on Feb 28, Singapore time) to respond, Reuters reported.
“The Office of the Secretary of War is preparing to execute on any decision that the Secretary might make on Friday regarding Anthropic,” a senior Pentagon official said.
The Pentagon has asked contractors, including Lockheed Martin, to provide an assessment of reliance on Anthropic, a step towards a potential designation of the AI firm as a supply-chain risk, the person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Contacted contractors include Boeing, Axios reported on Feb 25.
A Lockheed spokesperson told Reuters the Pentagon had contacted the company. Boeing Defense, Space and Security said it does not have any active contracts with Anthropic.
Anthropic did not respond to a request for comment.
The person familiar with the matter was not authorised to speak with media so declined to be identified.
The Pentagon has pushed big AI companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI, to make their AI tools available on classified networks without many of the standard restrictions that the companies apply to users, Reuters has reported.
Its dispute with Anthropic stems from the AI start-up’s refusal to remove safeguards that would stop its technology being used to target weapons autonomously and conduct surveillance in the US.
The department used Anthropic’s AI products during a military raid that captured Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro, the Wall Street Journal reported. REUTERS
