Key Points
- Pentagon deployed Anthropic’s Claude AI during Iran airstrikes within hours of Trump’s federal prohibition order
- Military operations utilized Claude for intelligence analysis, target selection, and tactical simulations
- Presidential directive mandated six-month withdrawal from Anthropic’s technology, designating the firm a “supply chain risk”
- OpenAI announced Pentagon partnership for classified network deployment immediately following Anthropic’s removal
- Anthropic declined Pentagon requirements for unrestricted military AI access, maintaining ethical boundaries on surveillance and autonomous weaponry
The U.S. military executed airstrikes against Iran utilizing Anthropic’s Claude AI technology on Saturday, occurring within hours of President Trump’s directive prohibiting federal agencies from deploying the system.
U.S. Central Command deployed Claude for intelligence analysis, target selection, and tactical simulations throughout the military operation, according to sources with direct knowledge. The strikes occurred as a coordinated effort with Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei perished in the airstrikes. Iranian state media reported his death following the targeting of his Tehran office location. Iran announced a 40-day period of national mourning following the event.
Trump had directed all federal agencies to “immediately cease” deploying Anthropic’s technology the previous day. He characterized the company as “leftwing nut jobs” and stated the firm was endangering “American lives.”
The Pentagon simultaneously designated Anthropic a “supply chain risk” and revealed a six-month timeline for system elimination. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated American warfighters would remain free from “the ideological whims of Big Tech.”
Tensions between Anthropic and the Pentagon had escalated over several months. The Pentagon sought unrestricted Claude access for any “lawful” military application. Anthropic declined, maintaining its position on safeguards preventing domestic surveillance and autonomous strike capabilities.
Anthropic stated on Friday that “no amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position.”
Claude had already been integrated into military workflows through partnerships with Palantir and Amazon Web Services. The technology also supported the January operation resulting in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture in Caracas.
OpenAI Secures Pentagon Partnership
Within hours of the Pentagon severing ties with Anthropic, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed an agreement to integrate OpenAI’s models into the Defense Department’s classified infrastructure.
Altman described the partnership as aligned with OpenAI’s principles, encompassing prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and mandates for human oversight of weapons deployment. He urged the Pentagon to extend identical terms to all AI providers.
OpenAI withheld confirmation regarding whether its services would directly succeed Anthropic’s departmental functions.
The Pentagon had previously established multi-year AI agreements valued up to $200 million each with multiple firms, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Elon Musk’s xAI.
Investment and Competition
OpenAI revealed a $110 billion funding round on Friday, establishing a $730 billion company valuation. Anthropic had secured $30 billion during February.
Both organizations are advancing toward initial public offerings, potentially within the current year. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei previously served at OpenAI before departing in 2020 due to concerns regarding safety prioritization.
AI specialists indicate full Claude replacement across military infrastructure will require months, considering the technology’s deep integration with partners like Palantir.
