Pentagon's chief tech officer says he clashed with AI company Anthropic over autonomous warfare

The Pentagon’s chief technology officer has revealed that he clashed with artificial intelligence company Anthropic over the use of AI in autonomous warfare, highlighting growing tensions between the U.S. military and tech firms over how advanced AI systems should be used on the battlefield.

Speaking at a defence technology conference, the senior Pentagon official said disagreements arose during discussions about whether AI models could be adapted for military operations involving autonomous weapons. According to the official, the debate focused on how far artificial intelligence should be allowed to make decisions without direct human control.

Anthropic, one of the leading AI companies working on advanced language models, has previously stated that it wants strict limits on the military use of its technology. Company representatives have argued that powerful AI systems should not be used to control weapons or make life-and-death decisions, warning that such uses could create serious ethical and safety risks.

The Pentagon, however, has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence as part of its effort to modernise the U.S. armed forces. Defence planners believe AI could help analyse intelligence faster, guide drones, and improve targeting systems, but officials say the military still intends to keep humans involved in critical decisions.

The chief technology officer said the discussions with Anthropic became tense when the company raised concerns about allowing its models to be used in systems that might support autonomous combat operations. He said the military respects those concerns but must also prepare for future conflicts in which adversaries may already be using AI-driven weapons.

Experts say the disagreement reflects a wider debate happening across the technology industry, where some companies are willing to work with defence agencies while others want strict rules about how their software can be used. In recent years, several tech workers have protested against military contracts, arguing that AI should not be involved in warfare.

Defence analysts warn that autonomous weapons are likely to become more common as countries compete to develop faster and more advanced military technology. They say the challenge for governments will be balancing the need for security with the risks of giving machines too much control in combat situations.

The Pentagon official said discussions with AI companies are continuing and that cooperation remains possible, but he acknowledged that disagreements are likely to continue as both sides try to define the limits of artificial intelligence in modern warfare.

The issue is expected to become more important in the coming years as governments around the world increase spending on AI and as international talks begin on whether new rules are needed to control the use of autonomous weapons.