Microsoft backs Anthropic in Pentagon blacklist battle, urges temporary restraining order

Microsoft is supporting Anthropic, an AI company that was recently banned by the Pentagon as a supply chain risk (a security designation historically used for foreign adversaries), by asking a court to temporarily block the ban so both sides can negotiate. The dispute arose because Anthropic wanted safeguards against its AI models being used for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance, while the Pentagon wanted unrestricted access for any lawful military purpose.