By: Tommy Steimer

Anthropic’s Claude is an innovative AI software that can automatically carry out tasks on prompts without even touching the computer. When Anthropic made Claude, it was created with the intent to revolutionize “safe AI” software that comes up with innovative solutions that solve everyday problems automatically. They have been working with the government to help develop this software and spread it to the American people. Currently, there is a heated debate between the corporation Anthropic AI and the United States Pentagon over unrestricted military access to their program at all times, with no expense spared. Some might argue that this is a good idea; however, many Hollywood movies and television shows, such as The Terminator, have directly shown why this is a terrible idea.

This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but if this passes, it may just be the start. By allowing the government to bully Anthropic into opening up its software, what is stopping other countries from doing the same? Or even the possibility of our own country using this newfound technology for applications that aren’t in its people’s best interest. This technology, in the wrong hands, opens the door up to potential spyware that can be used against everyday citizens of our once-free country. It also creates the possibility for new warfare technology, which, while advanced, is thoughtless and inhumane. This software, unlike human operators, is unable to disobey orders regardless of the law or moral and ethical implications. One instance of this occurred in 1983 when Stanislav Petrov singlehandedly prevented all-out nuclear war because, unlike AI, he was able to catch early warning signs AI couldn’t and disobey his orders in a way that AI couldn’t to prevent global disaster.

Another potential ramification of this software or technology is a complete violation of the public’s privacy, like never before. One of the points that the Pentagon is arguing for is mass surveillance over the citizens of the United States, the very people entrusted to their care. They could use this software to watch everything everyone does virtually at all times. Not only can they watch, but AI will also allow them to interpret the massive amount of data, which was previously impossible. This means that not only can the government see everything, but they can also understand it and use it as a weapon. They may try to brand it as a “precaution” or “safety meausre” but in reality, it will be used to monitor and invade the privacy of anyone they see necessary for any reason they see necessary. For example, you could be driving down the road and pass a camera going a few miles per hour over the speed limit. Though you think no one is watching, these cameras using this software will not only be able to see it, but know who you are, where you’re going, and what you’re doing at that very moment. It is not protection; it is a blatant violation of your privacy.

On top of all this, the government could also weaponize this technology in a revolutionary, yet wildly inhumane way. This software would allow the possibility of autonomous, indiscriminatory killing machines. There would no longer be the debate over whether to take the shot or how many shots to take; orders would simply be a code that is executed on command without any thoughts about the morals of what is being asked to do. Machines like this would create a new and much colder form of warfare that no longer regards soldiers fighting to protect the freedom of our great country, but killing machines destroying whatever target is decided to be the most valuable to the interests of the government. If this technology got into the wrong hands, it could be used to commit countless atrocities and attacks on humanity for whatever agenda the person commanding the technology deems fit.

I know this seems like a lot to take in, and potentially a problem weighing on the heads of the average American citizen, but it can be stopped. This country, since its establishment on July 4, 1776, has been founded on the belief in inalienable God-given rights that can not be undermined or taken away for any reason. However, with this bill, those same rights that this country is built on are being dampened and violated by our own government, whose sole role is to protect and promote those very rights. What can be done? As a country, we can speak out against the government’s actions and make it clear that we will not stand for such a blatant violation of our freedoms. Alone, a small voice is just a small voice, but if the country unites to stand up for our freedom,s the United States government will have no choice but to step back and rethink what truly is the “best interest” of the American people.

As of the time of this article’s posting on February 27th, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given Arthropic until 5:01 p.m. to comply with the demands for unfettered military access to their AI model, Claude. If they do not comply with this demand, they will be blacklisted, and all of the good revolutionary technologies being used to help people and better this country will be disregarded and destroyed because they are not allowing the U.S government to weaponize their innovative software. When Anthropic first started working with the United States government in 2024, they provided two simple guidelines that must be followed for their compliance with the government. These two regulations were no mass surveillance of United States citizens, and no mass autonomous weaponry. However, these two simple and logical regulations are deemed an obstacle to the objectives of the U.S government. What does this say about the interests of our own government?

Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei Ruhani Kaur/Bloomberg News (The Wall Street Journal)