US AI controversy erupts, Trump bans Anthropic; Pentagon signs major contract with OpenAI

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A major strategic shift has been witnessed in the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the US. President Donald Trump has taken a very tough stance against the AI ​​company Anthropic, ordering all federal agencies to immediately stop using its systems. Meanwhile, amid this conflict with the Trump administration, OpenAI has signed a significant agreement with the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), further deepening the strategic distance between these two major AI companies.

Strict order to remove Anthropic from federal agencies

President Trump announced this major decision through a post on the social media platform Truth Social. He has given clear instructions that no agency of the US government will now use Anthropic's technology. Trump said that the country has no need for this technology and all the agencies which are using it, including the Defense Department, will have to completely remove it within the next six months. Trump made serious allegations against Anthropic and said that the company is trying to influence the methods of war operations by putting pressure on the Defense Ministry, which is a direct threat to national security.

The Defense Department declared it a threat to national security

Amid this controversy, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared Anthropic a "supply-chain risk" to national security. He clarified that no military contractor will be able to conduct any business dealings with the company. Hegseth used harsh words like arrogance and treachery against the company, accusing it of imposing unfair conditions on AI for military use. Meanwhile, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei defended his position, stating that he cannot accept the Pentagon's demands for fully autonomous weapons systems and large-scale domestic surveillance. Amodei clearly believes that current AI models are not reliable enough to make decisions on their own on the battlefield without human oversight.

OpenAI wins, secures defense deal with regulations

While Anthropic has set its own limits on the use of AI in warfare, OpenAI has made a significant move by agreeing to controlled and rules-based military use. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company will now deploy its AI models on the Department of Defense's intelligence and secure networks. This landmark agreement primarily includes a complete ban on large-scale domestic surveillance and a human-controlled final decision on the use of weapons. The Pentagon has incorporated these essential principles into the contract. Additionally, OpenAI will deploy specialized engineers to continuously monitor the system's security and performance.

There will be a major shift in the balance of power in the AI ​​industry

Experts believe that Anthropic's departure from federal agencies, the Pentagon's designation of it as a security risk, and OpenAI's new military contract will shift the entire balance of power in the AI ​​industry. With these two major AI companies moving in diametrically opposite directions, it's clear that the future direction of military AI, government technology procurement, and industry competition will take on a completely new form.