Anthropic Appoints National Security Expert to Governing Trust Amidst Growing Defense Sector AI Engagement

Anthropic, a leading AI research company, has appointed Richard Fontaine, a national security expert, to its long-term benefit trust. This appointment follows Anthropic’s recent unveiling of new AI models tailored for U.S. national security applications, signaling a deeper involvement in the defense sector.

The long-term benefit trust is a crucial governance mechanism for Anthropic, designed to prioritize safety and ethical considerations over pure profit. It holds the power to elect members to the company’s board of directors. Fontaine joins existing trust members, including Zachary Robinson (CEO, Centre for Effective Altruism), Neil Buddy Shah (CEO, Clinton Health Access Initiative), and Kanika Bahl (President, Evidence Action).

In a statement, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei emphasized the significance of Fontaine’s addition, stating that it will “[strengthen] the trust’s ability to guide Anthropic through complex decisions” related to AI and security. Amodei highlighted the critical timing of this appointment, noting the increasing intersection of advanced AI capabilities with national security considerations. He reiterated the importance of democratic nations maintaining leadership in responsible AI development for global security and the common good.

Richard Fontaine brings a wealth of experience to the trust. He previously served as a foreign policy advisor to the late Senator John McCain and as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, teaching security studies. He also led the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a prominent national security think tank, for over six years.

Anthropic’s engagement with U.S. national security clients has been growing. In November, the company announced a collaboration with Palantir and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer its AI solutions to defense customers. This move aligns with a broader trend in the AI industry, where leading labs are increasingly pursuing opportunities in the defense sector.

Other major players in the AI space are also making inroads into the defense arena. OpenAI is actively seeking a closer relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense. Meta has made its Llama models available for U.S. national security applications. Google is refining a version of its Gemini AI for classified environments. Additionally, Cohere is collaborating with Palantir to deploy its AI models.

The appointment of Fontaine and the increasing focus on national security applications underscore Anthropic’s commitment to navigating the complex ethical and strategic challenges posed by advanced AI. This move also reflects the growing recognition of AI’s potential to contribute to national security objectives.

Prior to Fontaine’s appointment, Anthropic named Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to its board in May, further strengthening its leadership team.