USA Designates Anthropic a Supply Chain Risk (www.pbs.org)

The Trump administration designated Anthropic, the AI company behind the chatbot Claude, as a "supply chain risk," leading to a halt on the use of its technology across U.S. agencies. This decision follows a breakdown in negotiations over military use, specifically Anthropic's demand for assurances that its AI would not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's ultimatum prompted a public clash, with President Trump criticizing Anthropic’s stance and warning of severe consequences if the company does not comply with the phase-out of its technology. This significant move highlights the growing tensions between AI companies and government authorities regarding national security and ethical usage of AI. The designation could affect Anthropic's partnerships and impact the broader AI landscape, potentially favoring competitors like Elon Musk’s Grok, which is expected to gain access to military networks. Industry responses range from support for Anthropic's safety concerns, voiced by rivals like OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, to criticisms of the administration's political motivations behind such decisions, raising questions about the influence of partisan interests on national security in the rapidly evolving AI space.