A potential executive order from President Donald Trump may intensify the ongoing tensions with Anthropic, particularly regarding the use of artificial intelligence by the government. Reports indicate that Trump is considering forming an AI “working group” consisting of officials and tech industry representatives to establish a review process for unreleased AI models.
This development follows recent agreements by companies like Microsoft, xAI, and Google, which permitted the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) to review their models prior to release. Anthropic, however, was not part of this arrangement despite signing a similar agreement under the Biden administration in 2024.
New information suggests that the upcoming order might restrict companies from "interfering" with government AI applications, a term that could further isolate Anthropic, which has already been blacklisted by the Pentagon. The company has faced scrutiny for its refusal to ease constraints meant to prevent military overreach in AI applications. The implications of this potential order remain unclear, and the White House has not commented on the specifics, labeling any discussion before the official announcement as mere speculation.