Pentagon Gives Anthropic an Ultimatum Over the Company’s A.I. Model

NYT Homepage

by Julian E. Barnes and Sheera Frenkel

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The Pentagon has issued an ultimatum to Anthropic, a leading AI company, over its refusal to comply with military demands regarding the use of its technology. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, for a meeting in Washington, where he outlined two potential consequences if Anthropic does not meet the Pentagon’s requirements by Friday at 5:01 p.m. The first threat involves designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk, which could jeopardize its government contracts and access to classified systems. The second threat is invoking the Defense Production Act, forcing the military to use Anthropic’s AI model despite the company’s restrictions. This creates a paradoxical situation where one outcome would prevent the military from using Anthropic’s technology, while the other would compel it to do so. The Pentagon’s actions reflect growing frustration over Anthropic’s resistance and the increasing reliance of U.S. national security on commercial AI technologies. The meeting between Hegseth and Amodei was described as civil but ended with the Secretary issuing his ultimatum when Anthropic did not agree to the demands. This move has sparked concerns among legal experts, such as Jessica Tillipman of George Washington University Law School, who argue that it undermines the intended purpose of national security tools by using them as leverage in business negotiations. The situation highlights the delicate balance between safeguarding AI technologies and ensuring they align with military interests. If Anthropic fails to comply, it could face significant consequences, including losing access to critical government contracts. Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s invocation of the Defense Production Act raises questions about its broader implications for the tech industry and national security policies. This clash between innovation and regulation underscores the challenges of managing advanced AI systems in a military context while maintaining ethical and legal standards. The case is significant because it reveals the high stakes involved when commercial AI companies push back against government demands. It also sheds light on the potential risks of labeling private firms as supply chain vulnerabilities, which

Verticals

newsgeneral

Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/24/2026