Tags: autonomous weapons

Three days after the Vatican’s encyclical urged a ban on autonomous weapons, Arthur Mensch, chief executive of French AI firm Mistral, defended his company’s defense‑AI work. Mensch argued that Europe cannot afford to halt development while rival states continue to field AI‑driven systems. The clash pits the Pope’s moral appeal for strict self‑defense against a growing European defense industry that sees AI as essential to national security. Both sides agree on the legitimacy of self‑defense, but they differ on the threshold required to deploy lethal AI. Weiterlesen

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, called on the Pentagon and Anthropic to stop the growing clash over AI use in national security. In a recent interview, Altman said the technology’s geopolitical weight demands government oversight and a collaborative approach, warning that unchecked competition could jeopardize both safety and innovation. Weiterlesen

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei voiced concerns about the use of artificial intelligence for mass domestic surveillance, calling it incompatible with democratic values. He also warned that fully autonomous weapon systems are not yet reliable enough for lethal targeting decisions, though he acknowledged a potential future role in national defense. Amodei’s statements highlight tensions between AI innovation, government policy, and ethical considerations, drawing criticism from some political figures who have labeled the firm as radical. Weiterlesen

OpenAI's head of robotics, Caitlin Kalinowski, stepped down after the company signed a defense agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. Kalinowski said the rapid deal raised serious governance issues, particularly the potential for domestic surveillance without judicial oversight and the use of AI in lethal autonomous systems. While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman assured that safeguards would be added, the resignation highlights growing tension between cutting‑edge AI firms and national‑security priorities. Weiterlesen

A clash between the U.S. Department of Defense and AI developer Anthropic over the use of the Claude model exposed a regulatory vacuum. The Pentagon sought unrestricted access for "all lawful purposes," while Anthropic drew red lines against domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. After Anthropic refused, the administration labeled the firm a supply‑chain risk, prompting a lawsuit. Experts say the episode underscores the need for clear congressional rules on AI in national security, as the military pivots to OpenAI and the broader debate over AI‑driven surveillance and weaponry intensifies. Weiterlesen

Anthropic has filed a lawsuit to block the Pentagon from adding the AI firm to a national‑security blocklist after the Department of Defense labeled it a supply‑chain risk. The company argues the designation violates free‑speech and due‑process rights and lacks statutory authority. The legal action follows weeks of tension with the Defense Department, which pressed Anthropic to remove safeguards against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei refused, leading to threats of contract cancellation and a broader government push to bar the firm from federal use. OpenAI later secured a deal with the Defense Department, emphasizing similar safety principles. Weiterlesen

Anthropic sued the Department of Defense after being labeled a supply‑chain risk for refusing to enable domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous lethal weapons. Hours later, nearly 40 engineers, researchers and scientists from OpenAI and Google filed an amicus brief supporting Anthropic, warning that the designation threatens public interest and that the two red lines reflect genuine risks. The brief emphasized concerns about AI‑driven mass surveillance and the unreliability of autonomous weapons, calling for technical safeguards or usage restrictions. Weiterlesen

Caitlin Kalinowski, the robotics hardware lead at OpenAI, announced her resignation on X, citing the company’s rapid agreement with the Department of Defense without sufficient safeguards. She warned that surveillance of Americans and lethal autonomous weapons deserve more deliberation. OpenAI confirmed the departure, acknowledging strong public views and reiterating its red lines against domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. The resignation marks a high‑profile reaction to the Pentagon deal, which follows Anthropic’s refusal to relax similar guardrails. CEO Sam Altman said the agreement would be amended to prohibit spying on Americans. Weiterlesen

Caitlin Kalinowski, who led OpenAI's hardware team, announced her resignation in protest of the company's agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. She said the deal was rushed and lacked the safeguards needed to prevent domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons, emphasizing that her decision was a matter of principle. OpenAI responded by stressing that the agreement includes clear red lines against domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons and that it will continue dialogue with stakeholders. The resignation highlights ongoing tensions over AI use in national security. Weiterlesen

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei announced that the company will contest a Defense Department designation labeling its AI products a supply‑chain risk. The move follows a Pentagon notice that the designation is effective immediately. Amodei expressed belief that the action is not legally sound and said the firm has no choice but to pursue legal action. While the restriction applies to defense use, Anthropic’s Claude chatbot remains available to the public and commercial partners such as Microsoft. The company continues discussions with the department to explore permissible ways to serve the Pentagon without violating its exceptions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Weiterlesen

The U.S. Department of Defense has officially labeled Anthropic, the creator of the Claude AI model, as a supply‑chain risk after negotiations over the company's use restrictions collapsed. The designation bars defense contractors from using Claude in any government work and threatens to cancel contracts for firms that engage with Anthropic commercially. Anthropic’s CEO said the department’s action is legally unsound and the company will contest it in court. The dispute centers on Anthropic’s refusal to allow the Pentagon to employ Claude for autonomous lethal weapons without human oversight and for mass surveillance, raising questions about private control of government‑grade AI. Weiterlesen

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company will revise its contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to explicitly forbid the use of its artificial‑intelligence system for mass surveillance of Americans. In an internal memo shared on X, Altman detailed new language tying the restriction to the Fourth Amendment and other applicable laws, and said he would prefer jail over complying with an unlawful order. The move follows a broader government debate over AI guardrails, pressure on rival Anthropic to drop safeguards, and a recent surge in Anthropic’s popularity after the policy shift. Weiterlesen

OpenAI announced a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense that it says protects three core red lines: mass domestic surveillance, autonomous weapons, and high‑stakes automated decisions. The company stresses a multi‑layered safety approach that includes full control over its safety stack, cloud‑based deployment, cleared personnel involvement, and strong contractual protections. OpenAI contrasts its stance with Anthropic, which failed to secure a similar deal, and emphasizes that its architecture prevents direct integration of models into weapon systems or sensors. Executives acknowledge the agreement was rushed and faced criticism, but argue it helps de‑escalate tensions between the defense sector and AI labs. Weiterlesen

OpenAI has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of War, prompting a wave of criticism from ChatGPT users and industry observers. After Anthropic turned down a similar deal over safety concerns, OpenAI announced its agreement, claiming it includes stronger safeguards. Many users are canceling their ChatGPT subscriptions, moving to alternatives like Claude, and posting guides on how to remove their data. Critics accuse OpenAI of abandoning ethical standards, while the company insists its contract contains “red lines” to prevent misuse. The controversy has fueled a broader debate about AI safety, surveillance, and autonomous weapons. Weiterlesen

Claude, Anthropic's AI chatbot, has risen to the number one spot on the US Apple App Store chart following Anthropic's decision to decline a contract with the US Department of War over safety concerns. The move contrasts with OpenAI’s acceptance of a similar deal for ChatGPT, prompting many users to abandon ChatGPT and switch to Claude. President Donald Trump has called Anthropic a radical‑left AI company and urged agencies to stop using Claude, though the tool remains in use across several government bodies, including the White House and US Central Command. Weiterlesen

OpenAI announced a contract with the U.S. Defense Department to place its artificial‑intelligence models within the agency’s network. The agreement includes two core safety principles—prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and a requirement for human responsibility over the use of force, including autonomous weapon systems. OpenAI will provide technical safeguards, assign engineers to work with the department, and run the models on cloud infrastructure, with a pending partnership to use Amazon Web Services for enterprise customers. The deal comes as rival Anthropic declined a similar government offer, citing concerns over surveillance and weaponization. Weiterlesen

President Donald Trump instructed U.S. federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's Claude artificial‑intelligence system after the company refused to let the Department of Defense apply the technology for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. The president’s post on Truth Social called Anthropic a "radical left, woke company" and set a six‑month phase‑out for agencies. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said the firm could not in good conscience remove contract clauses that prohibit use of Claude in autonomous weapons or surveillance. The clash highlights growing tension between government demands and AI firms’ safety commitments. Weiterlesen

Anthropic is refusing new Pentagon contract conditions that would relax safeguards on its artificial‑intelligence models. The proposed terms would permit "any lawful use," including mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous lethal weapons. Pentagon CTO Emil Michael has suggested labeling Anthropic a "supply chain risk" if it does not comply. While rivals OpenAI and xAI have reportedly accepted the terms, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says threats do not change the company’s stance, emphasizing that it cannot in good conscience accede to the request. Weiterlesen

Anthropic faces a standoff with the U.S. Department of War over a request for unrestricted access to its AI technology. As the Pentagon’s deadline looms, more than 300 Google employees and over 60 OpenAI employees have signed an open letter urging their companies to stand with Anthropic and reject the military’s push for use of AI in domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous weaponry. The letter asks executives at Google and OpenAI to uphold Anthropic’s red lines, while company leaders have not yet issued formal responses. Informal comments suggest sympathy for Anthropic’s position, and the dispute highlights broader tensions over AI ethics and government demand. Weiterlesen

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has declined a request from the U.S. Department of Defense to remove safety guardrails from the company’s Claude AI models. Amodei argues that frontier AI systems are not yet reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons and that removing ethical constraints would jeopardize both safety and civil liberties. While affirming the strategic importance of AI for national defense, he stresses that current models cannot replace the critical judgment of trained troops. The refusal puts a $200 million Pentagon contract at risk. Weiterlesen