Claude AI Tops App Store Charts Amid Pentagon Contract Dispute

Anthropic's Claude AI app surged to the number one position on Apple's U.S. free apps chart this weekend. The rise follows a public clash with the Department of Defense, which moved to block the startup's technology from use by defense contractors after Anthropic refused to alter its ethical policies for government work.

The company's terms prohibit the use of its models for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weaponry. In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended labeling Anthropic a supply-chain risk. President Trump criticized the company on Truth Social, calling its stance a "disastrous mistake."

Anthropic's visibility from the dispute appears to have driven user growth. Since January, its free user base has expanded by more than 60%, with daily sign-ups tripling since November and setting daily records this week. Paying subscribers have more than doubled in 2026.

The Claude app, which languished at 131st in late January, has spent much of February in the top 20 before its recent peak. It now leads competitors ChatGPT and Gemini in the current rankings.

In a statement, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei expressed hope the Pentagon would reconsider, citing the technology's value to military operations. Meanwhile, competitor OpenAI announced a separate agreement with the Defense Department on Friday. The sector's growth was underscored when pop star Katy Perry shared an image of Claude's Pro subscription, signaling its reach beyond corporate and government circles.

Source: CNBC