After Trump ordered the ban on Anthropic, it was still used for airstrikes? AI systems involved in Iranian military operations spark controversy

On March 2nd, according to The Wall Street Journal, just hours after President Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI products, the U.S. military still used the company’s Claude platform in a large-scale airstrike against Iran. Sources revealed that the Central Command utilized Claude for intelligence assessment, target identification, and combat scenario simulation during the operation, quickly sparking discussions about the role of AI in modern warfare.

Previously, the Trump administration and Anthropic clashed over regulations concerning the military use of AI systems. CEO Dario Amodei refused to remove safety restrictions on Claude that prevent large-scale surveillance and automated weapons, stating that such demands violated the company’s principles. Subsequently, Trump publicly criticized the company on Truth Social and ordered government agencies to “immediately cease” using its products. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth then listed Anthropic as a “national security supply chain risk,” banning Pentagon contractors from continuing partnerships with the firm.

However, industry insiders note that once AI models are deeply integrated into military intelligence systems, policy changes are difficult to implement immediately. Midhun Krishna M, co-founder of TknOps.io, explained that deploying AI systems within intelligence networks involves retraining, re-certification, and multiple testing phases. Therefore, even if a gradual phase-out is announced, the actual replacement process could take months or longer.

Meanwhile, the competitive landscape among AI companies is also shifting. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a new partnership with the Pentagon to support classified military networks. However, he also warned that labeling an American AI company as a security threat could set a dangerous precedent.

Notably, nearly 500 employees from OpenAI and Google jointly signed an open letter criticizing the Pentagon’s AI cooperation strategy, expressing concern that the government is exacerbating competition and division among AI firms. As AI increasingly becomes a vital part of modern military systems, the U.S. AI arms race and its regulatory disputes continue to escalate.