The United States military reportedly deployed an artificial-intelligence system developed by Anthropic during the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to media reports citing people familiar with the matter.
Last month, US special operations forces detained Maduro and his wife during a raid and transported them to the United States, where they are facing extensive narcotics-related charges.
Role of Anthropic’S Claude In Capturing Maduro
The AI system, known as Claude, was reportedly accessed through Anthropic’s partnership with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies. Palantir’s platforms are widely used by the US Department of Defense and federal law-enforcement agencies.
Details about the exact role played by the AI tool in the operation have not been publicly disclosed. However, such systems are generally capable of performing tasks ranging from document analysis and intelligence summarisation to supporting autonomous systems, according to reports.
Reuters noted it could not independently verify the claims, and multiple agencies declined to comment on operational specifics.
What Anthropic Said About Its Use In Capturing Maduro
Anthropic declined to confirm whether its AI model was used in the mission.
“We cannot comment on whether Claude, or any other AI model, was used for any specific operation, classified or otherwise,” an Anthropic spokesperson said.
“Any use of Claude, whether in the private sector or across government, is required to comply with our Usage Policies, which govern how Claude can be deployed. We work closely with our partners to ensure compliance.”
The company’s guidelines prohibit the use of Claude for activities involving violence, weapons development, or surveillance.
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that Anthropic has oversight of both classified and unclassified usage and is confident that any deployment complied with its policies as well as those of its partners.
Anthropic First AI Developer To Be Used In Classified Operations
According to reports, Anthropic became the first major AI developer whose system has been used in classified operations by the department.
The reported deployment has also raised internal concerns within Anthropic about how its technology could be used by the military. These concerns prompted officials in the administration ofUS President Donald Trump to consider canceling a Pentagon contract with the company worth up to $200 million, which had been awarded last summer.
The US government has increasingly prioritised artificial intelligence development for defence applications. In December, War Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised the strategic importance of the technology.
“The future of American warfare is here, and it’s spelled AI,” he said.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
