The Department of Defense (DoD) currently maintains a complicated relationship with the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. On one hand, the company has been officially designated as a "supply chain risk," while on the other, its latest AI model, Mythos, is being hailed as a critical asset. Pentagon Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Emil Michael referred to Mythos as a pivotal "national security moment."
Mythos: A Double-Edged Sword
"I think the Mythos issue... is a separate national security moment where we have to make sure our networks are hardened up," Michael told CNBC's Squawk Box. He emphasized that the government must evaluate the model's advanced capabilities to protect American infrastructure. Mythos, developed by Anthropic, is an AI model specifically designed to identify and patch cyber vulnerabilities, distinguishing it from standard chatbots.
Anthropic's Public Feud with the Pentagon
The relationship between the Pentagon and Anthropic soured earlier this year after the two sides failed to agree on safe usage terms for the company's models. This disagreement led the DoD to officially label Anthropic as a supply chain risk. Despite this designation, the US military has reportedly already deployed Anthropic's technology. The DoD has used the company's models to support military operations in the war in Iran, and the National Security Agency (NSA) is reportedly utilizing Mythos. "NSA and Commerce evaluates all frontier models... to see what the capabilities are at the edge," Michael explained, defending the necessity of studying even high-risk technology.
Potential Peace Deal on the Horizon
According to reports, there are signs that the two sides may reach a resolution. Earlier this month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with senior Trump administration officials at the White House. President Trump later told CNBC that a deal between the company and the DoD is "possible," describing the firm as "very smart." Michael added that the Pentagon still wants "guardrails" for AI use but noted that these terms are "negotiable."
Pentagon Signs Contracts with Seven AI Companies
While Anthropic remains embroiled in legal and regulatory disputes, the Department of War is moving forward with other partners. The agency has announced deals with seven AI companies to deploy technology across classified networks for "lawful operational use." These companies include Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, OpenAI, Nvidia, SpaceX, and Reflection.
