All your bots are belong to US if you don't play ball, DoD tells Anthropic
The Register
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is escalating its demands for Anthropic, the AI firm behind Claude, over restrictions on military use of its technology. In a meeting at the Pentagon, the DoD sought to compel Anthropic to lift limitations that prevent the use of its AI for autonomous weapons targeting and domestic surveillance. While Anthropic appears resistant, recent changes to its safety policies suggest a potential shift in stance. The DoD has warned that if Anthropic does not comply by Friday, it could invoke the Defense Production Act to seize control of the company's AI, bypassing restrictions on usage. This move could also include designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk, forcing U.S. government contractors to remove its software, and terminating a $200 million contract if terms are not met.
The conflict began in late September when Reuters reported disagreements over safeguards that would block military use of Anthropic's AI for autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance. Despite efforts by both parties to resolve the issue, sources indicate little progress was made during CEO Dario Amodei’s meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The DoD maintains it follows legal and lawful guidelines in its AI usage, emphasizing that its role as an end-user supersedes Anthropic's policies.
Adding to the tension, Anthropic recently updated its Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP) by removing a key pledge to halt training on unsafe AI models or withhold releases without proper risk mitigation. The company cited competitive pressures in the AI space for the change, signaling a growing emphasis on innovation and market positioning over safety guarantees. This decision coincided with the meeting at the Pentagon and has raised concerns about the potential risks of unregulated AI development.
The situation highlights broader tensions between AI innovation and national security concerns. Anthropic's resistance to DoD demands underscores the ethical and regulatory challenges surrounding advanced AI, particularly its
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Originally published on The Register on 2/25/2026