Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro escorted by US forces [UPI=Yonhap News]

Last month, the US military utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct military operations during the process of apprehending Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, reported US political media outlet Axios on the 13th (local time).

Axios cited two sources familiar with the matter, stating that Anthropic's AI, 'Claude', was used in the operation codenamed 'Operation Absolute Resolve'.

Claude is an AI developed by Anthropic, a US startup backed by Google and Amazon. It is known for its advanced reasoning and coding capabilities, as well as its excellent ability to process large amounts of information simultaneously.

Axios reported that the US Department of Defense highly values Claude's ability to rapidly process real-time data, especially considering the chaotic circumstances of military operations.

The sources cited by Axios stated that Claude was used not only in the preparation phase of the operation but also during its execution. While dozens of Cuban guards protecting President Maduro and Venezuelan soldiers died during Maduro's arrest on the 3rd of last month, not a single US service member was killed.

Anthropic is a startup founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees who were critical of commercialization. It has consistently advocated for 'safe and ethical AI' and maintained strict guidelines that limit the direct use of its models in the development of lethal weapons or violent military operations.

When asked by Axios whether Claude was used in the operation to oust Maduro, an Anthropic spokesperson responded, "We cannot comment on whether Claude or any other AI models have been used in specific operations, classified or otherwise."

Image of Anthropic's AI [AFP=Yonhap News]

While ethical issues are arising regarding the use of AI on the battlefield, the US Department of Defense is actively pursuing ways to utilize AI.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses has stated his desire to integrate AI into military networks to stay ahead of China. He particularly indicated an intention to actively employ AI in military operations, saying, "We will not adopt AI models that do not allow us to wage war."

In fact, the US Department of Defense is reportedly in discussions with OpenAI, Google, and xAI regarding related matters.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that Claude was utilized in the Maduro arrest operation, stating that the Department of Defense and Anthropic signed a software usage contract worth $200 million (approximately 290 billion won) last summer.

However, WSJ reported that the Department of Defense recently moved to cancel its contract with Anthropic due to Anthropic's hesitant stance on military operations, citing safety regulations.

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