OpenAI and Google Join Forces to Support Anthropic Against the Pentagon

Massive Support for Anthropic Against the Department of Defense

In an unprecedented move, over thirty employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind have decided to stand with Anthropic in a legal battle against the United States Department of Defense. This support takes the form of a statement filed on Monday, condemning the federal agency's decision that labeled the artificial intelligence company as a threat to the supply chain. Court documents reveal that this designation has been perceived as an abusive and arbitrary use of governmental power, with potentially serious consequences for the tech industry.

Among the signatories of this statement is Jeff Dean, the chief scientist at Google DeepMind, who expresses his concern regarding this situation. According to the document, the government's classification of Anthropic could have significant repercussions for the artificial intelligence sector, particularly hindering open discussions about the risks and benefits of current AI systems.

A Controversial Decision by the Pentagon

Last week, the Pentagon decided to classify Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a designation typically reserved for foreign entities deemed hostile. This decision came after Anthropic refused to allow the Department of Defense to use its technology for mass surveillance operations or for the autonomous control of weapons. The DOD had expressed its desire to use artificial intelligence for any mission deemed "legal," without being constrained by the conditions imposed by a private vendor.

Support for Anthropic emerged shortly after the company filed two lawsuits against the DOD and other federal agencies. Wired was the first media outlet to report this news, highlighting the significance of this case in the American tech landscape.

An Alternative Ignored by the DOD

In their statement, the employees from Google and OpenAI emphasized that if the Pentagon was no longer satisfied with the terms of its contract with Anthropic, it could have simply terminated the agreement and turned to another reputable AI company. However, the DOD chose to sign a contract with OpenAI immediately after designating Anthropic as a risk, a decision that sparked strong reactions among OpenAI employees, creators of ChatGPT.

Implications for the AI Industry

The amicus curiae brief filed by the employees warns of the potential consequences of this government initiative. They argue that if such punitive action against one of the leading AI companies in the United States is maintained, it could harm the country's industrial and scientific competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, it could stifle the open and necessary discussions about the risks and benefits of modern AI systems.

The signatories of the statement also assert that the concerns expressed by Anthropic are legitimate and require robust safeguards. In the absence of public legislation governing the use of AI, the contractual and technical restrictions imposed by developers on their systems are considered essential to prevent potentially catastrophic uses.

A Call for Solidarity in the Tech Sector

Many employees who signed this statement have also participated in open letters in recent weeks, urging the Department of Defense to reconsider its designation of Anthropic. They also call on the leaders of their respective companies to support Anthropic and refuse any unilateral use of their AI systems by the government. This mobilization underscores the importance of solidarity in the tech sector in the face of governmental decisions perceived as unjust and potentially harmful to innovation.