OpenAI and Google employees rush to Anthropic’s defense in DOD lawsuit

More than 30 employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind, including Google's chief scientist Jeff Dean, have filed a legal brief supporting Anthropic in its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense. The filing comes in response to the Pentagon labeling Anthropic a “supply-chain risk,” an action the employees call an “improper and arbitrary use of power.” This collective action from researchers at rival companies marks a significant escalation in the industry's debate over the military application of artificial intelligence and the right of developers to set ethical boundaries on its use.

The conflict began after Anthropic refused to allow the DOD to use its technology for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems. In response, the Pentagon designated the firm a supply-chain risk—a label typically reserved for foreign adversaries—and argued that it should be able to use AI for any “lawful” purpose without restriction from a private contractor. Shortly after applying the designation to Anthropic, the DOD signed a deal with OpenAI, a move that prompted protests from many of OpenAI's own employees who have now signed the amicus brief.

The brief argues that the DOD’s action threatens to harm U.S. scientific competitiveness and will “chill open deliberation” about the risks and benefits of AI. The employees contend that if the Pentagon was unsatisfied with Anthropic's terms, it could have simply canceled the contract rather than taking punitive action. The filing underscores a core belief within this group of researchers: that in the absence of public law governing AI, the contractual and technical restrictions imposed by developers are a critical safeguard against catastrophic misuse of the technology.

The DOD's move to penalize Anthropic for its ethical stance has backfired, uniting employees from rival AI labs and escalating the industry-wide conflict over the military's unrestricted use of AI. This forces a public reckoning on whether developer-imposed safeguards or government demands will dictate the technology's application.