Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei is back at the negotiating table with the U.S. Department of Defense after talks collapsed over the Pentagon’s demand for unrestricted access to the company’s Claude AI models. The renewed discussions aim to prevent a supply‑chain‑risk designation that could bar Anthropic from future defense work. The dispute centers on the department’s push for open‑use language and Anthropic’s refusal to compromise on two red lines: prohibiting mass surveillance of Americans and banning lethal autonomous weapons without human oversight. Read more →

A diverse coalition of unions, religious organizations, political groups and prominent individuals gathered in New Orleans under Chatham House Rules to draft the Pro‑Human AI Declaration. Produced by the Future of Life Institute, the five‑point framework calls for keeping humans in control of artificial intelligence, protecting children and families, banning fully autonomous lethal weapons, preventing AI from exploiting emotional attachment, and stopping the concentration of AI power. The declaration has attracted signatories ranging from the AFL‑CIO Tech Institute to the Congress of Christian Leaders and figures such as Randi Weingarten, Glenn Beck and Richard Branson, marking a broad, cross‑political push for responsible AI development. Read more →

OpenAI announced a new agreement with the Pentagon that it says respects its safety principles on domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapon systems. Critics point out that the deal relies on the phrase “any lawful use,” which they argue could allow broad government use of the technology. Anthropic refused a similar contract, was labeled a supply‑chain risk, and has drawn industry support. The dispute highlights differing approaches to AI safety, legal compliance, and the role of technical safeguards in military applications. Read more →

Anthropic has abandoned its earlier pledge to halt training and releasing frontier AI models until it could guarantee safety mitigations. The company now relies on detailed safety roadmaps, regular risk reports, and transparency disclosures instead of strict pre‑conditions. Executives describe the change as pragmatic, while critics argue it highlights the limits of voluntary safety promises without regulatory oversight. The new policy aims to keep Anthropic competitive while still emphasizing safety, but observers note that the shift may signal a broader industry move away from self‑imposed restraints. Read more →