The Pentagon has terminated its use of artificial intelligence tools from the technology company Anthropic, citing national security concerns. An official confirmed this development, stating that the Department of Defense has ceased employing Anthropic’s products.

This move follows a dispute earlier this year when Anthropic refused Pentagon demands to remove safety guardrails from its AI systems that would have allowed the military unrestricted access to the technology. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently labeled Anthropic a “national security supply-chain risk” and announced plans to end the use of its AI tools by late August.

Despite this announcement, sources indicated that Anthropic’s Claude model remained in use by the Department of Defense for intelligence gathering and military operations, including actions related to Iran, as recently as last week. Anthropic’s AI had been utilized by the US government and military since 2024, marking the first time an advanced AI provider’s products were integrated into agencies handling classified tasks. The tools were valued for their ability to process large volumes of information critical to defense operations.

Anthropic has declined to comment on the termination of its relationship with the Pentagon. The decision underscores growing concerns within US national security circles about supply-chain risks associated with reliance on private sector AI technologies in sensitive government functions.