The US administration has designated AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk, a move that could compel government contractors to cease using the AI chatbot Claude.
The Pentagon officially informed Anthropic leadership of the decision, effective immediately. This action follows accusations from President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth that Anthropic's products pose a national security risk. The dispute centers on Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's refusal to permit the use of its products for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Amodei stated the action is not legally sound and intends to challenge it in court. The Pentagon maintains the military requires unrestricted use of critical capabilities for warfighters. Amodei countered that Anthropic's proposed limitations apply to high-level usage, not operational decision-making.
The designation requires the military to phase out Claude use within six months. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin confirmed it will comply and seek alternative AI providers, anticipating minimal impact. Microsoft indicated it can continue non-defense related projects with Anthropic.
The Pentagon's decision, using a rule typically for foreign adversaries, has drawn widespread criticism. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called it a "dangerous misuse" of a tool. Former FTC official Neil Chilson described it as "massive overreach." A letter from former defense and national security officials warned of a "dangerous precedent" against domestic firms.
Meanwhile, Anthropic has seen a surge in consumer downloads, with over a million new sign-ups daily, topping AI app charts in over 20 countries. This dispute intensifies Anthropic's rivalry with OpenAI, which recently secured a deal to replace Anthropic in classified military environments.