Trump orders end to cooperation with AI firm Anthropic

Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to immediately end their cooperation with the artificial intelligence laboratory Anthropic. He specified that a six-month transition period would apply to the Department of Defense and other agencies using the company's products.

"We don't need them, we don't want them, and we won't be doing business with them anymore!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social about Anthropic.

The White House chief's order came after weeks of dispute between the Pentagon and the San Francisco-based startup. It concerned concerns about how the military could use artificial intelligence in warfare.

Spokespeople for Anthropic, which has a $200 million contract with the Pentagon, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The Pentagon had previously considered using the Defense Production Act to compel Anthropic to cooperate. It also wanted to designate Anthropic as a risk to the supply chain, a step that has been used in the past against companies linked to foreign adversaries.

Trump promised further action if Anthropic did not cooperate in gradually ending the collaboration.

(reuters, luc)