AI labs clash over Pentagon deal. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei reportedly told staff that OpenAI’s public messaging about its new U.S. Department of Defense contract was “straight up lies.” The comment came after Anthropic walked away from its own negotiations with the Pentagon. Anthropic wanted strict limits written into the agreement. The company pushed to block uses like domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. The Pentagon asked for broader access to Anthropic’s models, so the talks ended. OpenAI moved forward with its contract, which allows AI use for any lawful purpose. OpenAI says the deal already bans domestic mass surveillance. Critics argue that what counts as “lawful” can change. The fight shows how divided AI companies are about working with the military as their systems enter national security programs. Is this healthy oversight or the start of an AI arms race? Source: The Information #altman #amodei #claude #openai #pentagon