By Nick Robins-Early
Publication Date: 2026-03-07 14:00:00
Anthropic’s ongoing dispute with the Defense Department over what security restrictions it can impose on its artificial intelligence models has captivated the tech industry, acting as a test of how AI can be used in war and of the government’s power to force companies to comply with its demands.
The negotiations centered on Anthropic’s refusal to allow the federal government to use its Claude AI for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems, but the dispute also reflects the messy nature of what happens when tech companies integrate their products into conflicts. The Pentagon declared Anthropic a supply chain risk this week for refusing to agree to the government’s terms, while Anthropic has vowed to challenge the designation in court.
The Guardian spoke to Sarah Kreps, a professor and director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University who previously served in the US Air Force, about how the feud unfolded.
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