In a significant escalation, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued an ultimatum to the artificial intelligence company Anthropic, demanding it comply with military requirements regarding its AI technology by this Friday. Hegseth warned that the Pentagon might invoke special powers to compel Anthropic to share its technologies, citing national security concerns surrounding AI applications in warfare.

This ultimatum comes in response to Anthropic's hesitations about the potential use of its advanced AI technologies for developing autonomous weapons systems and engaging in mass surveillance. Sources familiar with the conversations indicated that the company is contemplating exiting negotiations and abandoning its existing $200 million contract with the Department of Defense if its concerns regarding the ethical implications of its technology are not addressed.

Anthropic, notable for being the first AI enterprise to integrate its technology into the Pentagon's classified networks, raises crucial discussions about the balance between technological advancement and ethical usage in military contexts. As governments worldwide grapple with similar dilemmas, the outcome of this negotiation could set important precedents for the regulation of AI in defense applications.