Washington: OpenAI has reached an agreement with the Pentagon to allow its AI models to be used on the US defence agency’s classified network, with “safeguards” in place, following former President Donald Trump’s decision to blacklist rival AI firm Anthropic.

Trump had directed all federal agencies to immediately cease using Anthropic’s technology, calling it a national security threat after the company refused to grant unconditional military use of its Claude models. The AI startup has vowed to challenge the move in court, calling the government’s actions “intimidation” and insisting its technology should not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.

Hours after the announcement, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed that the company had struck a deal with the Pentagon under similar conditions, incorporating “technical safeguards” to prevent misuse. “Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems,” Altman wrote on X, adding that these principles were included in the agreement.

Earlier, Trump had criticised Anthropic for imposing ethical restrictions, insisting that Pentagon contractors must comply with military requirements. “I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!” he said on Truth Social. He warned the company to cooperate or face “major civil and criminal consequences.”

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Anthropic has responded by preparing a court challenge. The company said it would contest any designation as a supply chain risk and reaffirmed its commitment to ethical AI usage, including restrictions on mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. “We will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court,” the San Francisco-based firm said.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed the Pentagon to block any commercial activity between Anthropic and military contractors, branding the company’s actions as “arrogance and betrayal.” Meanwhile, top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries defended Anthropic, describing the government’s stance as an “invasion of privacy” and insisting that mass surveillance of American citizens is unacceptable.

The dispute has drawn attention across the tech industry, with hundreds of employees from AI firms including Google DeepMind and OpenAI signing an open letter expressing solidarity with Anthropic. “We hope our leaders will put aside their differences and stand together to continue to refuse the Department of War’s current demands for permission to use our models for domestic mass surveillance and autonomously killing people without human oversight,” the letter stated, warning that attempts to divide companies through fear were undermining ethical standards.