Tags: military AI

Around 1,500 DeepMind employees in the United Kingdom have voted to join the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union, sending a letter to Google demanding formal recognition. The union drive, sparked by the revelation of a Pentagon contract that would let the U.S. defense department use Google’s artificial‑intelligence tools, reflects growing unease among the researchers about military applications of their work, including ties to the Israeli Defense Forces. Workers are also pressing for an independent ethics board and the right to refuse projects they deem harmful. Ler mais

Google has entered a classified agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense that lets the Pentagon use the company’s artificial‑intelligence models for any lawful government purpose. The deal, reported by The Information, comes just a day after more than 560 Google engineers signed an open letter urging CEO Sundar Pichai to refuse such military contracts. Unlike an earlier Anthropic pact that barred mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons, Google’s terms contain no ethical carve‑outs. The move adds the tech giant to a short list of AI firms supplying unrestricted AI capability to the U.S. military. Ler mais

During a hearing, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin questioned the Department of Defense’s decision to label AI developer Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, describing it as an apparent attempt to cripple the company after it sought limits on military use of its Claude tool. Anthropic has filed lawsuits alleging illegal retaliation, and the judge is considering a temporary injunction that could pause the designation. The case highlights tensions over AI use in the armed forces, First Amendment concerns, and the Pentagon’s authority to restrict contractors. Ler mais

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren labeled the Department of Defense’s decision to label AI lab Anthropic as a supply‑chain risk as “retaliation.” Warren argued the move punishes Anthropic for refusing to let its technology be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons without human oversight. The dispute has drawn support from several tech firms and legal groups, and Anthropic is suing the DoD over alleged First Amendment violations while a judge considers a preliminary injunction. Ler mais

The Department of Defense has argued that allowing Anthropic continued access to its warfighting infrastructure would introduce an unacceptable risk to supply chains and national security. In a court filing responding to Anthropic's lawsuit over a supply‑chain risk designation, the Pentagon cited concerns that the company could disable or alter its AI models during operations if corporate “red lines” were crossed. The filing notes that the agency’s secretary, Pete Hegseth, included a provision in AI contracts permitting use for any lawful purpose, which Anthropic refused, prompting the department to label the partnership unsafe. Ler mais

Google is rolling out its Gemini AI agents to the U.S. Department of Defense, initially on unclassified networks. The agents will automate tasks such as summarizing meetings, building budgets, and checking actions against the national defense strategy. Defense personnel can also create custom agents using natural language. The rollout follows a rapid expansion of Pentagon AI partnerships and comes despite earlier internal resistance to military AI projects. Google’s AI chatbot on the GenAI.mil portal has already seen widespread adoption among Defense employees. Ler mais

OpenAI has entered a new contract with the U.S. Department of Defense that critics say leaves room for the technology to be used in mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. The agreement follows Anthropic’s loss of a $200 million Pentagon contract after refusing such uses. While OpenAI removed a 2023 ban on military applications and signed a deal with Anduril for national‑security purposes, experts warn that current regulations lag behind AI advances, risking privacy violations for everyday citizens. Ler mais

The U.S. government has labeled AI firm Anthropic a supply‑chain risk after the company declined to sign a Pentagon intelligence agreement. Anthropic’s chief executive called the move legally unsound and announced plans to contest the designation in court. The label applies only to government contracts and does not affect Claude, Anthropic’s chatbot, whose daily sign‑ups have topped a million. The company says the designation is meant to protect the government rather than punish suppliers, and it continues to attract users amid broader debates over AI use in the military. Ler mais

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei sent an internal memo denouncing OpenAI's statements about its new Pentagon agreement as "straight up lies" and "mendacious." The memo follows Anthropic's withdrawal from a separate U.S. intelligence contract over concerns about AI use in mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Amodei criticizes OpenAI for focusing on employee appeasement rather than genuine safety safeguards and questions the vague "all lawful use" language in the Pentagon deal. OpenAI’s Sam Altman later admitted the announcement was rushed, while reports suggest Anthropic may be re‑entering talks with the Pentagon. Ler mais

Anthropic's $200 million Department of Defense contract fell apart over a clause allowing unrestricted military use of its AI. After the Pentagon turned to OpenAI, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei resumed talks with Pentagon official Emil Michael to seek a compromise that would limit uses such as domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Both sides have exchanged sharp criticism, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened to label Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, a move that could bar the company from future military‑related work. Ler mais

Nearly a thousand engineers from Google and OpenAI have signed an open letter urging their companies to reject Pentagon pressure to expand the military use of artificial intelligence. The letter, framed as a show of solidarity, calls for clear ethical boundaries on AI applications in surveillance and autonomous weapons. It references past internal protests at Google over Project Maven and highlights Anthropic’s recent designation as a supply‑chain risk after refusing to enable mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. The workers hope their collective voice will influence corporate policy on defense contracts. Ler mais

Artificial intelligence has become a flashpoint between the technology sector and U.S. defense officials. Recent reports indicate that AI tools are being employed in military decision‑making, prompting concerns over security clearances, ethical use, and the potential for autonomous weapons. At the same time, public discourse pits AI’s promise of augmenting work against fears of mass job loss. The clash highlights a growing tension over how AI should be regulated, who controls its deployment, and what safeguards are needed to balance national security with civil liberties. Ler mais

The U.S. secretary of defense announced that Anthropic, a leading AI startup, is now designated as a supply‑chain risk for any contractor, supplier, or partner doing business with the military. The move has sent shockwaves through the tech sector, prompting Anthropic to vow legal action and raising concerns about the impact on existing defense contracts and broader AI collaborations. Industry leaders, legal experts, and policy analysts are debating the legality and potential precedent of the designation, while companies that work with both the Pentagon and Anthropic are left uncertain about their future relationships. Ler mais

Hundreds of current employees at Google and OpenAI have added their names to an open letter urging their companies to stand with Anthropic amid a Pentagon dispute over military uses of AI. The letter, titled “We Will Not Be Divided,” calls for both firms to reject Department of War demands for unrestricted model deployment, referencing statements from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Over 450 staff members have signed, with the majority from Google and the rest from OpenAI, while roughly half of the participants have chosen anonymity. The move follows recent pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and discussions involving other AI entities such as xAI. Ler mais

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. Ler mais

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic a deadline of 5:01 PM on Friday to drop safety safeguards on its Claude AI system, threatening to cancel a $200 million contract and label the firm a supply‑chain risk. CEO Dario Amodei responded that Anthropic cannot in good conscience comply, insisting on keeping the safeguards while remaining willing to support the military. The Pentagon’s request would allow Claude to be used for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons, a use case Anthropic refuses. The standoff raises questions about AI safety, government contracts, and potential alternatives such as Grok, Google’s Gemini, and OpenAI. Ler mais

Pentagon leader Pete Hegseth warned AI firm Anthropic that it must cooperate with the Department of Defense’s AI strategy or risk being removed from the defense supply chain. The department’s recent AI strategy emphasizes open‑ended use of artificial intelligence to reshape warfare, while Anthropic has raised concerns about the reliability of its models for lethal missions without a human in the loop and has advocated for stricter rules on domestic surveillance uses. A potential cut would affect Anthropic’s $200 million contract and its partners such as Palantir. Ler mais

Anthropic, the AI startup behind the Claude model, is locked in a high‑stakes dispute with the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon wants unrestricted, "any lawful use" of Anthropic’s technology, while the company refuses to support autonomous lethal weapons and mass domestic surveillance. The disagreement threatens a $200 million contract and could force defense contractors to drop Anthropic’s models. The clash highlights the tension between rapid military AI adoption and corporate responsible‑use policies. Ler mais

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei to the Pentagon for a meeting about the defense department’s concerns over the military use of Anthropic’s AI model Claude. The Pentagon is threatening to label the company a supply‑chain risk after Anthropic refused to let the department employ its technology for mass surveillance of Americans or for autonomous weapon systems. The move puts a high‑stakes ultimatum on the table that could void Anthropic’s existing defense contract and force other Pentagon partners to drop the model. Ler mais