- The conflict between Anthropic and the U.S. authorities threatens the country’s tech industry.
- The dispute arose from Anthropic’s refusal to allow the use of its AI models for surveillance and autonomous weapons.
- Amid the conflict, OpenAI signed its own agreement with the Pentagon.
American industry associations have appealed to President Donald Trump to reconsider the decision to classify Anthropic as a threat to the technology supply chain. They believe that such a move could negatively impact the entire U.S. tech sector and jeopardize the country’s position in global technological leadership.
This is reported by Business • Media
In an open letter to the Trump administration, the signatories — including TechNet and the Computer & Communications Industry Association — emphasized that further restrictions against Anthropic pose risks for hundreds of companies, including giants like Google, Apple, NVIDIA, and Advanced Micro Devices.
Reasons for the Conflict Between Anthropic and the Pentagon
The dispute between Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense escalated after the company refused to enter into a contract without key stipulations. Anthropic insisted on including clauses in the contract that prohibit the use of its models for mass surveillance of citizens and the creation of fully autonomous weapons.
After the failed negotiations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the possibility of designating Anthropic as a “risk to the supply chain.” This could lead to the termination of contracts with contractors working with the military and seriously impact the U.S. innovation sector.
On February 27, 2026, the Trump administration ordered the cessation of the use of Anthropic technologies in federal agencies, providing a six-month transition period. The company announced its intention to challenge this decision in court.
Meanwhile, on March 3, 2026, it was revealed that Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei had resumed negotiations with the Pentagon in an attempt to reach a compromise regarding the use of the company’s models by the military.
OpenAI Signs Agreement with the Pentagon Amid Dispute
While Anthropic is resisting government restrictions, its competitor OpenAI has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. OpenAI’s developments, including ChatGPT, will be implemented in the department’s closed environments.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that the agreement was signed hastily and has already faced criticism in the industry. The company emphasizes that the contract also includes restrictions on the use of AI for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
“Such a precedent could lead to uncertainty for companies collaborating with the government and limit American military access to advanced artificial intelligence solutions,” industry representatives stress.
It is also noted that the decision regarding Anthropic creates a dangerous precedent that could impact the development prospects of the entire U.S. tech sector and the implementation of innovations in defense.