Microsoft Backs Anthropic in Legal Fight Against Pentagon AI Ban

Microsoft has formally asked a federal court to temporarily halt a Pentagon order that blacklists AI company Anthropic, arguing the sudden ban could disrupt vital military operations. The tech giant filed a brief Tuesday supporting Anthropic's request for a restraining order.

The Department of Defense moved last week to designate Anthropic a supply chain risk, a severe classification typically applied to foreign adversaries. The ruling effectively bars defense contractors from using Anthropic's AI models in any work for the Pentagon.

Microsoft warned that forcing companies to immediately reconfigure existing systems to remove Anthropic technology would be chaotic. 'A temporary order would allow for a more orderly transition and prevent disruption to the military's current use of advanced artificial intelligence,' the company stated. It argued an abrupt shift could impair capabilities for U.S. personnel in active theaters.

The filing comes one day after Anthropic itself sued the administration, calling the Pentagon's action 'unprecedented and unlawful.' The AI firm contends the designation is causing immediate and irreparable harm, jeopardizing contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The court is now set to weigh whether to pause the ban while the broader legal challenge plays out. The outcome could signal how the government will manage perceived risks from domestic AI providers under the current administration.

Source: CNBC