Anthropic shut out of US defence deals? Pentagon says it is developing alternatives to the Claude-maker
The dramatic dispute between Anthropic and the US government appears to be far from over, and there are no signs of compromise. The Pentagon is now trying to create its own alternatives to the Claude manufacturer’s technology, according to a senior US defense official.
The move follows the Trump administration’s decision to label the artificial intelligence (AI) company a “supply chain risk” amid disagreement over safeguards for military use of its technology.
Antropik has since challenged the appointment in court.
In an interview with BloombergCameron Stanley, the Pentagon’s digital and artificial intelligence chief, said it will take more than a month to begin phasing out Anthropic products currently used in US military operations in Iran.
However, efforts are already underway to introduce an alternative large language model (LLM), he added.
“The Ministry is actively pursuing multiple Master’s programs for suitable state-owned environments,” he said. “Engineering work has begun on these LLMs and we expect them to be ready for operational use very soon,” he said.
What does this mean for Anthropic?
Stanley’s remarks underscore defense officials’ desire to drop Anthropic as an AI provider after talks broke down last month.
The dispute stems from Anthropic abandoning its demand for assurances that its AI tools will not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or the deployment of autonomous weapons.
According to multiple reports, US defense forces used Anthropic’s AI to launch airstrikes on Iran, which also killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Meanwhile, the “supply chain risk” designation puts at risk a $200 million deal for Anthropic to supply secret AI tools to the Pentagon and could prevent the company from partnering with other firms on defense projects.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have set a six-month timeline for the military and other federal agencies to turn to other AI developers from Anthropic. Bloomberg reported.
While previous reports suggested a possible fix between Anthropic and the Pentagon, recent developments suggest the government is preparing to move forward without the AI initiative.
The impact of the Pentagon’s statements about Antropik
Until the dispute escalated, Anthropic was the only AI provider operating in the Pentagon’s classified cloud, and its Claude tool won favor with defense personnel for its ease of use. Bloomberg.
Anthropic has previously said it could lose billions of dollars in revenue this year and asked a judge to act quickly on the Trump administration’s request to block its declaration, the agency reported.
While the fight continued, OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, stepped in and made its own deal with the Pentagon. According to multiple reports, the Department of Defense has also signed a deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to use Grok in its stealth systems.
(With wire entry)
