Hegseth Warns Anthropic: Drop AI Limits or Face Pentagon Action

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a firm ultimatum to artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, demanding that the company significantly scale back its AI safety restrictions or face possible punitive action from the Pentagon. According to reports, Hegseth has set a Friday deadline for the firm to comply with military requirements.

Key Highlights

• Pentagon sets strict Friday deadline for Anthropic to ease AI safeguards or face serious consequences.
• Dispute highlights clash between ethical AI development and rising national security demands.

The move highlights growing tensions between national security priorities and the ethical safeguards adopted by leading AI developers. During a high-level meeting with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Hegseth reportedly pushed for broader access to the company’s advanced AI model, Claude, arguing that operational constraints were limiting the Pentagon’s ability to fully leverage the technology for defense purposes.

Pentagon officials warned that failure to relax these safeguards could result in the termination of government contracts, blacklisting of the company as a supply-chain risk, or even compulsory compliance under the Defense Production Act. The military views Claude as strategically vital, especially following its reported effectiveness in recent operational trials.

Anthropic, however, has maintained that while it is open to modifying certain policies to support defense needs, it remains firmly opposed to allowing its AI systems to be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons development. The company has consistently stressed its commitment to responsible AI deployment and strict ethical boundaries.

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The standoff reflects broader debates over how advanced artificial intelligence should be governed, particularly when commercial innovation intersects with national security imperatives. Industry analysts warn that this confrontation could shape future frameworks for military collaboration with private AI firms, setting important precedents for accountability, oversight, and ethical use.