Pentagon confirms Claude AI used in Iran strike planning despite Trump's Anthropic ban

Reuters: "The Pentagon used artificial intelligence services from Anthropic, including its Claude tools, during its attack on Iran, according to a source familiar with the situation." The Guardian: "The US military reportedly used Claude, Anthropic's AI model, to inform its attack on Iran despite Donald Trump's decision, announced hours earlier, to sever all ties with the company." Key details: • Pentagon had contracts worth up to $200 million with Anthropic for AI capabilities. • Anthropic was among a small group of AI developers (alongside Google and others) awarded Pentagon contracts. • The dispute stemmed from Anthropic's "refusal to allow unrestricted military use of its AI models, especially for controversial purposes such as fully autonomous weapons or mass surveillance." • AI was integrated in intelligence assessment, target identification, and operational simulations. • WION News: "One thing is now very clear: AI has become deeply integrated in US military planning and execution by early 2026." The use of Claude AI in a major military operation marks a significant milestone — the first confirmed use of a large language model in the planning of a state-on-state military campaign.