AI Company CEO Rejects Pentagon Demands for Surveillance Use
The leader of a prominent artificial intelligence enterprise expressed grave reservations on Thursday regarding the Pentagon’s call for unbridled access to his company’s technology, deeming such actions as tantamount to “mass surveillance of Americans” and the development of fully autonomous weaponry.
Dario Amodei, at the helm of Anthropic and creator of the AI chatbot Claude, articulated his stance in a statement, indicating a reluctance to disengage from negotiations with the Trump administration.
However, he criticized a recent contract awarded by the Department of Defense, stating it failed to make significant strides in safeguarding against the misuse of Claude for mass surveillance or in the orchestration of autonomous weapon systems.
Notably, Anthropic stands apart from other major AI firms, such as Meta, Google, and Elon Musk’s xAI, all of which have complied with military contracts.
In response, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, conveyed on social media that the military holds no intentions of utilizing AI for illegal mass surveillance of American citizens, nor does it seek to develop autonomous weapons devoid of human oversight.
This situation has sparked bipartisan criticism regarding the Pentagon’s approach in these negotiations.
Senior Army Official Removed by Hegseth after Extensive Service
Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina who is not pursuing reelection, denounced the Pentagon’s handling of the situation as unprofessional, highlighting that Anthropic is “doing its utmost to prevent us from making detrimental decisions.”
“Why on earth are we engaging in public discourse on this matter?” Tillis questioned reporters, as reported by The Associated Press. “This is not how one interacts with a strategic vendor under contract.”
Pentagon’s Commitment to Legal AI Usage
Despite assertions from Pentagon officials regarding their adherence to legal frameworks in employing AI models, the department has initiated reforms aimed at reshaping the culture within military legal realms.
Asserting the necessity of independent legal counsel, Hegseth emphasized a desire for military lawyers who deliver sound constitutional guidance, rather than obstructive roadblocks.
In February, shortly after he assumed the role of defense secretary, he dismissed senior legal officers from both the Army and Air Force without further explanation. The Navy’s chief legal officer had departed subsequent to the elections in late 2024.
This unfolding scenario underscores the larger discourse surrounding the role of AI in national security, spotlighting concerns regarding its application in scenarios demanding lethal force, sensitive data usage, or governmental surveillance, according to AP.
It coincides with Hegseth’s pledge to eradicate what he describes as a “woke culture” within the military.
Hegseth elaborated on his vision for military AI systems, asserting their operation without ideological limitations that constrain legitimate military applications and reaffirming that Pentagon AI initiatives would not align with “woke” ideologies.
Amodei previously articulated in an essay the robust capabilities of AI, positing, “A powerful AI scrutinizing billions of conversations from millions could accurately assess public sentiment, identify emerging factions of disloyalty, and neutralize them preemptively.”
Source link: The-express.com.
