Anthropic has announced a partnership with data analytics firm Palantir and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to make its Claude AI models accessible to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies. This collaboration reflects a broader trend among AI companies, including Meta and OpenAI, which are increasingly targeting U.S. defense sectors for strategic and financial growth.
Under this arrangement, Anthropic's Claude models, available on Palantir's defense-accredited platform (Impact Level 6 or IL6), will now operate on AWS infrastructure. The IL6 classification is reserved for data critical to national security, with access restrictions up to the "secret" level. Kate Earle Jensen, head of sales at Anthropic, stated that this collaboration will enhance analytical capabilities within classified environments, enabling defense organizations to quickly process large volumes of data, streamline complex tasks, and improve decision-making efficiency.
Anthropic previously signaled its intention to expand its government clientele by integrating select Claude models into AWS's GovCloud, a service tailored for U.S. government cloud workloads. Known for its emphasis on AI safety, Anthropic permits its tools to be used for intelligence analysis, identifying foreign influence campaigns, and providing early warnings of potential military actions. However, its terms of service restrict usage for disinformation, weapon deployment, and unauthorized surveillance, aiming to mitigate the risk of misuse.
Interest in AI within government agencies is high, as highlighted by a Brookings Institute report that recorded a 1,200% increase in AI-related government contracts as of March 2024. However, some branches, like the U.S. military, remain cautious, questioning AI's long-term benefits.
Anthropic has recently expanded to Europe and is reportedly seeking additional funding, which could increase its valuation to as much as $40 billion. So far, the company has raised approximately $7.6 billion, with Amazon as its primary investor.
