Anthropic’s artificial intelligence model Claude was used in a U.S. military operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
According to the report, Claude’s deployment occurred through Anthropic’s partnership with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies, whose software platforms are widely used by the U.S. Defense Department and federal law enforcement agencies.
The United States captured Maduro in January in an operation that brought him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
Anthropic, Palantir, the U.S. Defense Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The reported use of Claude comes amid broader efforts by the Pentagon to expand access to advanced AI systems. Reuters reported this week that the Defense Department is urging leading AI developers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to make their tools available on classified networks with fewer usage restrictions.
Anthropic’s policies prohibit the use of Claude to support violence, design weapons or conduct surveillance. While the company allows certain government uses through third parties, its systems remain subject to its published guidelines.
Anthropic recently raised $30 billion in funding, valuing the company at $380 billion, underscoring growing investor interest in AI firms supplying both commercial and government markets.
The reported involvement of AI tools in a high-profile international operation is likely to intensify debate over the role of advanced AI systems in military and law enforcement activities.
