Internal Pentagon memo orders military commanders to remove Anthropic AI technology from key systems
CBSN
The Defense Department has officially notified senior leadership figures throughout the U.S. military that they must remove Anthropic's artificial intelligence products from their systems within 180 days, according to an internal memorandum obtained by CBS News. In:
The Defense Department has officially notified senior leadership figures throughout the U.S. military that they must remove Anthropic's artificial intelligence products from their systems within 180 days, according to an internal memorandum obtained by CBS News.
The memo was dated March 6, a day after the Pentagon formally designated Anthropic a supply chain risk. It was distributed to senior leaders on Monday, alleging Anthropic's AI "presents an unacceptable supply chain risk for use in all [Department of War] systems and networks."
The document, signed by Defense Department Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies, represents the latest salvo in an escalating feud between the Trump Administration and Anthropic. The notice sheds light on the wide-ranging steps military commanders will need to take to remove Anthropic AI from key national security systems, including those for nuclear weapons, ballistic missile defense and cyber warfare.
It also demanded that any other company doing business with the Pentagon must stop using all Anthropic products on work related to Defense Department contracts within 180 days.
In the memo, Davies warned that adversaries "can exploit vulnerabilities" of the daily operations of the Pentagon, and possible exploitation could pose "potential catastrophic risks to the warfighter." Davies said she is the only one who can grant an exception.
