Anthropic Refuses Pentagon Military Ai Demands In February 2026

In a significant escalation of tensions, Anthropic, an artificial intelligence lab, has firmly stated it will not relax its usage restrictions for military applications, despite pressure from the Pentagon. During a crucial meeting on February 24, 2026, between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon issued an ultimatum: comply with military demands or face severe consequences, including being labeled a supply-chain risk or having the Defense Production Act invoked against them. A senior Pentagon official disclosed that Anthropic was given until Friday at 5 p.m. to respond, highlighting the urgency of the situation. "The Pentagon has integrated Claude into its operations but has threatened to sever the relationship over roadblocks erected by Anthropic," reported The Guardian. This standoff is particularly notable as Anthropic was the first AI developer to be utilized in classified operations by the Defense Department, making its refusal to compromise a pivotal moment in military AI applications.