Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Dario Amodei’s Anthropic after the company refused to accept the U.S. Department of Defense’s push to lift safeguards on the use of its AI model for classified missions.
The bone of contention was two clauses: mass domestic surveillance and the model’s use in fully autonomous weapons systems. Trump claimed that Amodei’s company was putting the nation’s “security in jeopardy” by refusing the U.S. military unrestricted access to its flagship AI model.
However, as Trump further labelled the AI firm a “radical left woke company,” popular American singer Katy Perry extended her support to Dario Amodei in quite a unique way amid the controversy. So, without further delay, let’s explore what Perry did to show Anthropic her support amid a barrage of condemnation from U.S. defense officials.
Dario Amodei’s Claude gets a new subscriber
Taking to X, Katy Perry posted a screenshot of her phone showing that she had subscribed to Anthropic’s flagship model Claude’s premium annual plan. She opted for the Pro plan and drew a heart sign in the screenshot to symbolically express her solidarity with Amodei amid his tussle with the Pentagon. “Done,” she wrote on X after hitting the “Get Pro plan” button.
The Claude Pro plan is a paid subscription tier that offers enhanced access and features compared with the free version. It costs about $20 per month, and about $17 per month when billed annually.
Katy Perry has consistently aligned herself with progressive and Democratic causes, previously endorsing Hillary Clinton and voicing support for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform — positions often at odds with Trump’s political agenda.
Meanwhile, Trump directed federal agencies of the United States government to cease using Anthropic’s technology through a phase-out process. “I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!” the U.S. President wrote on his social media platform.
In a post on X, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote that “no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic,” while designating the AI company a “security risk.”
Related: Donald Trump’s Top Defense R&D Official Calls Anthropic CEO A “Liar” With “God-Complex”
In the end, Amodei refused to budge on safeguards preventing the use of Claude for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. Now, it appears increasingly likely that the company will lose its $200 million defense contract based on the current state of affairs. Nevertheless, the widespread condemnation from top U.S. government officials has not compelled him to compromise on the principles he has publicly defended.
Also read: Elon Musk Exposes Anthropic’s Theft Following Brutal Community Note on X
