IBL News | New York
President Trump yesterday ordered all federal agencies to stop using AI technology from Anthropic, describing this company as a “radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about.”
The company had clashed with the Pentagon over how officials wanted to use its cutting-edge AI model.
Its CEO, Dario Amodei [in the picture], explained in a statement his refusal of the Pentagon’s terms: “In a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values.”
“We do not believe that today’s frontier A.I. models are reliable enough to be used in fully autonomous weapons. Allowing current models to be used in this way would endanger America’s warfighters and civilians. Second, we believe that mass domestic surveillance of Americans constitutes a violation of fundamental rights,” he explained.
Shortly after President Trump’s announcement, War Secretary Pete Hegseth designated the company a “supply-chain risk to national security,” forbidding any contractor or supplier that works with the military from doing business with Anthropic.
The startup said in a statement that it would challenge the move in court.
Meanwhile, Donald J. Trump’s message on his social media network stated:
“THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW A RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY TO DICTATE HOW OUR GREAT MILITARY FIGHTS AND WINS WARS! That decision belongs to YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, and the tremendous leaders I appoint to run our Military.
The Left-wing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution. Their selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY.
Therefore, I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again! There will be a six-month phase-out period for Agencies like the Department of War that are using Anthropic’s products at various levels. Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow.
WE will decide the fate of our Country — NOT some out-of-control, Radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Still, President Trump announced a “six-month phase-out” for the Pentagon and some other agencies, which could allow for more extended negotiations between Anthropic and the War Department.
The Pentagon said it wanted all its contractors to adhere to a single standard: the military can use what it buys however it wants, as long as it complies with the law.
Employees at Anthropic cheered their chief executive’s firm stance. In a moment of unity across Silicon Valley AI companies, employees at two of Anthropic’s competitors, OpenAI and Google, signed letters backing Anthropic’s position.
One letter published Thursday was signed by nearly 50 employees at OpenAI and 175 at Google. It criticized the Pentagon’s negotiating tactics and called on its leaders to “put aside their differences and stand together to continue to refuse the Department of War’s current demands.”