Link: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/24/tech/hegseth-anthropic-ai-military-amodei

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today, as the Pentagon threatens the AI company with what could amount to a government blacklist.

At issue is the guardrails Anthropic placed on its AI models. The Pentagon, which has a $200 million contract with Anthropic, wants the company to lift its restrictions for the military to be able to use the model for “all lawful use,” according to a source familiar with the discussions.

But Anthropic has concerns over two issues that it isn’t willing to drop, the source said: AI-controlled weapons and mass domestic surveillance of American citizens. According to a source familiar, Anthropic believes AI is not reliable enough to operate weapons and no laws or regulations yet that cover how AI could be used in mass surveillance.

I have to doubt they will use it, regardless of any concerns.

If people would instead use the term "Text generator" instead of "AI", boomers like Hegseth would understand that the military is not its use case

Anthropic's artificial-intelligence model Claude was used in the U.S. military's operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Claude's deployment came via Anthropic's partnership with data firm Palantir Technologies (PLTR.O) -WSJ via Reuters

Someone at Anthropic apparently saw that story, asked how Claude was used, and the Pentagon got cagey.

I imagine you meant to say “no doubt” they will use it. Because I have none.

Isn't Pete Hegseth the guy who gets drunk and invites journalists to secret military chats?

Text vomiter would be even more accurate

Three possible outcomes:

1. Anthropic drop their pretense of caring in exchange for further blood money
2. Kegseth gives them an extension in exchange for an obvious bribe
3. Both.

I'm thinking it's probably 3.

That's how I read it. They are already using it, but want absolutely no guardrails or ethical interference.

That and is totally cool taking orders from a treasonous child rapist

"Text generator to"

• Identify the next target to attack

• Justify the latest military operation to the press

• Induce a panic in Congress to get the Pentagon more money

• Lie about how the latest military engagement is going

Seems to fulfill all the basic responsibilities of a modern Secretary of Defense Offense. Why do we even need Hegseth at all? Hell, why do we need the Joint Chiefs? Just direct all future queries to the GenAI.mil platform. We can scrape every bureaucrat over the rank of Major with this thing.

Whenever the Pentagon catches even the slightest whiff of a conscience among its contractors they move immediately to snuff it out.

Anyone else have “SkyNet released” on their 2026 bingo card?

MAGA Diplomacy: "Just shut the fuck up, and take the fucking money. What's the matter with you?"

Anthropic believes AI is not reliable enough to operate weapons

something something walk or drive to the car wash something something

But why the crab cakes? The rest of it makes sense, but… what?

He leaks secrets that remind him of the good times
He leaks secrets that remind of the better times

Oh Petey boyyyyyy

Then let me ask, how would you reach quorum with a loose group in the south? It’s guns or fried food, for me.

o/

Man we used to high five in IRC and now all i see is a salute. 😟

If the fascists don't like it, Anthropic must be doing something right.

im guessing palinitir isnt what its cracke dup to be of its own AI.

Turbo Travesty.

Though you can never tell for sure with CEOs, Dario Amodei has shown dangerous signs of being ethical, at least with not overselling LLM capabilities and with giving serious thought to downstream risks. On the input side, honoring copyright and not abusing fair use: maybe not so much.

Aaaaaaaaand it's gone: https://lite.cnn.com/2026/02/25/tech/anthropic-safety-policy-change
Now they are just like any other AI corporation.

Well, maybe there is still hope: https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war
It could just be a ruse to stay on the moral high ground (for now, that is). Anyway I'm going to assess them based on what they do. And if it is what they say, they're still one of the better AI corporations.