US drafts strict AI guidelines after Anthropic dispute: Key rules explained

The Trump administration has prepared a strict AI framework for civilian artificial intelligence contracts following the clash with Anthropic over AI military use.

A draft of guidelines as reported by the Financial Times require AI companies to allow “any lawful” use of their models, granting US irrevocable license for unrestricted access.

The civilian contracts would be subjected to these strict guidelines enacted by the US General Services Administration (GSA), pushing the government-led effort to consolidate the procurement of AI services.

According to the source privy to the matter, the framework, besides civilian contracts, will probably be applied to military contracts.

The GSA guidelines also mandates that contractors must not deliberately embed ideological and partisan beliefs or judgements into AI systems and should deliver the neutral outputs as the Trump administration aims to target “woke AI models.”

Moreover, as per another clause, the companies must reveal the compliance status of their models with any non-US federal government or regulatory framework.

Another clause includes language intended to challenge the compliance with the EU Digital Services Act.

The announcement comes after the Pentagon’s move to designate Anthropic “the supply chain risk to national security” and threatened to rip up $200 million contract with the US-based artificial intelligence company after the CEO Dario Amodei refused to give in to Pentagon’s controversial clauses related to mass surveillance and autonomous lethal weapons.

"It would be irresponsible to the American people and dangerous to our ‌nation ⁠for GSA to maintain a business relationship with Anthropic," said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, a GSA subsidiary that helps procure software for the federal government

"As directed by the President, GSA ​has terminated Anthropic’s ​OneGov deal - ending ⁠their availability to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches through GSA’s pre-negotiated contracts," Gruenbaum added.