Pentagon stops utilizing Anthropic instruments after blacklisting firm, BBC informed
The US Department of Defence is now not utilizing Anthropic’s AI instruments, an official has informed the BBC, months after it designated the corporate a provide chain threat on nationwide safety grounds.
The Pentagon “has ceased using Anthropic merchandise”, the division official mentioned in a press release on Monday.
Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a provide chain threat in February, and introduced that the Pentagon would cease utilizing it by late August. It isn’t clear why there was a delay.
Multiple folks accustomed to the matter informed the BBC that as lately as final week Anthopic’s Claude mannequin was nonetheless being utilized by the division in analysis, evaluation and intelligence gathering in addition to in army operations towards Iran.
It was seen as a essential instrument for sorting via huge portions of data, the folks mentioned. They embrace former US defence officers and contractors who’ve labored carefully with the Pentagon particularly on AI.
A spokesman for Anthropic declined to remark when requested concerning the Pentagon’s assertion.
The particulars of the division stopping all use of Anthropic’s instruments haven’t been beforehand reported.
The agency had been utilized by the US authorities and army since 2024 and was the primary superior AI firm to have its instruments deployed in authorities companies doing categorised work.
But earlier this yr, the Pentagon pressed it to take away its security guardrails from Claude and provides the army unfettered entry to its AI merchandise.
When Anthropic refused, citing considerations of mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, Hegseth designated the corporate a “nationwide safety supply-chain threat” – a regulation usually reserved for corporations based mostly in international locations that pose a menace to the US.
Anthropic said the move was “unprecedented and unlawful” and has sued the Trump administration in an effort to overturn the designation.
