Pentagon asks defense contractors about reliance on Anthropic's AI services, source says

The U.S. Department of Defense is escalating a dispute with AI company Anthropic over how its artificial intelligence systems can be used in military operations. The Pentagon has formally asked major defense contractors to evaluate how dependent they are on Anthropic’s technology, signaling that it may designate the company as a “supply-chain risk.” Such a designation could restrict or prevent the use of Anthropic’s AI tools in defense contracts and classified systems. At the center of the conflict is Anthropic’s refusal to remove built-in safeguards that limit its AI models from being used for autonomous weapons targeting and certain surveillance activities. The Pentagon has been urging leading AI firms to make their systems available on classified networks with fewer restrictions, arguing that operational flexibility is critical for national security. Anthropic, however, maintains that weakening those guardrails would increase the risk of misuse and contradict its safety commitments. The issue intensified following a meeting between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. During the discussion, Hegseth reportedly warned that if the company did not comply, the Department of Defense could take formal action. Options under consideration include labeling Anthropic a supply-chain risk or invoking legal authorities to compel cooperation. The Pentagon has set a Friday deadline for the company’s response. Defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing have been contacted as part of the Pentagon’s review. While Boeing’s defense division stated it has no active contracts with Anthropic, the broader assessment suggests the government is preparing contingency plans. The outcome of this dispute could set an important precedent for how AI companies engage with U.S. defense agencies in the future, particularly regarding the balance between ethical safeguards and military demands.