Top AI Experts Back Anthropic in Lawsuit Against Pentagon

[madtrader]

More than 30 employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind, including DeepMind chief scientist Jeff Dean, filed a court brief supporting Anthropic’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon had labeled Anthropic a supply-chain risk after the AI firm refused to allow its technology to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons deployment.

The amicus brief argues the Pentagon’s move is an arbitrary use of power that could chill innovation and debate in AI development. Signatories emphasized that contractual safeguards, such as Anthropic’s restrictions, are vital for preventing misuse in the absence of clear public law, and noted that the DOD could have simply canceled the contract instead of punishing the company.

[bonk]

arbitrary government power + AI ethics = classic 2026 sci-fi plot in real life