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This interview provides a detailed look at a significant government AI partnership and its challenges from a former insider.
Pentagon Insider: What's Next For Anthropic and The Department of War — With Michael Horowitz
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Alex Kantrowitz interviews Michael Horowitz on the Big Technology Podcast about Anthropic's relationship with the Pentagon. They discuss how models like Claude are deployed in defense, a contract dispute over "mass surveillance" language, and the future of AI partnerships with the U.S. government. The conversation also touches on autonomous weapons and AI's impact on warfare.
This episode explains how AI tools, like those from Anthropic, are used by the U.S. military. It covers why a contract with the Pentagon caused problems and what this means for AI companies working with the government.
This episode offers an insider's perspective on the complex intersection of frontier AI development and national security. It's for anyone interested in how advanced AI like Anthropic's Claude is being integrated into military applications and the policy challenges that arise. Horowitz's insights are particularly relevant as governments worldwide grapple with AI's dual-use potential, mirroring current discussions around safety and responsible deployment by major AI labs.
- HostAlex Kantrowitz
- GuestMichael Horowitzformer deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging , Department of Defense
- Guest: Michael Horowitz
- Title: Pentagon Insider: What's Next For Anthropic and The Department of War
- Show: Big Technology Podcast
- Length: 48 minutes
- Guest Role: Former deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities
Michael Horowitz is the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities at the Department of Defense, and currently a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Horowitz joins Big Technology to discuss the Anthropic–Pentagon rupture and what it signals about how the U.S. government wants to use frontier AI. Tune in to hear his inside view on how models like Claude actually get deployed in defense workflows, why a contract fight over “mass surveillance” language escalated, and what the trust breakdown says about the future of AI partnerships with the state. We also cover autonomous weapon systems vs. “fully autonomous weapons,” what today’s AI can and can’t do on the battlefield, and how AI is likely to reshape warfare over time. Hit play for a clear-eyed look at where Silicon Valley and the national security establishment collide—and what happens next.
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Questions people ask
- What is the episode about?
- The episode discusses Anthropic's work with the Pentagon, how AI models are deployed in defense, and the challenges in government partnerships.
- Who is Michael Horowitz?
- Michael Horowitz is a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities at the Department of Defense and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Alex Kantrowitz.