The Trump administration has instituted strict rules for civilian AI contracts, requiring AI companies to allow "any lawful" use of their models, a move that comes amid a standoff between the Pentagon and Anthropic.
Draft new government guidelines seen by the media stipulate that artificial intelligence companies wishing to do business with the government must grant the United States an irrevocable license to use the companies' systems for all lawful purposes.
The guidance issued by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will apply to civilian contracts and is part of efforts to strengthen the procurement of artificial intelligence services at the government level. A person familiar with the matter said the approach is similar in principle to measures the Pentagon is considering for military contracts.
The new terms were drafted over the past few months, just a week after the U.S. Department of Defense said it would tear up a $200 million contract with Anthropic. The reason is that the artificial intelligence company refuses to allow the Pentagon full discretion in the use of the technology, citing concerns about domestic surveillance and lethal autonomous weapons.
The White House also labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk.
The startup, valued at $380 billion, argued that its powerful technology could be used for domestic mass surveillance if "all lawful uses" were allowed, and pushed for specific provisions to be written to provide safeguards.