US Used AI to Track Venezuelan President: 'Claude' Model Aided Caracas Bombing in First-Ever Secret AI Mission

The US Department of Defense has used the AI ​​tool "Cloud" to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This is the first time AI has been used in such a large and secret operation, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The US military arrested Maduro after bombing a caracas in early January. He is currently in a New York prison on drug trafficking charges.

According to reports, the US military used "Cloud" not directly from Entropic, but through the data company "Palanteer." Palanteer already works for the US Department of Defense and the Federal Police. Due to Entropic's concerns, the Trump administration is now considering canceling its $200 million (approximately ₹1,800 crore) contract.

Ban on the Use of Cloud AI for Violence

Anthropic, the company that developed Cloud AI, stated, "We cannot comment on any specific operation, but every user is bound by our Usage Policy."

Cloud AI guidelines clearly state that this technology cannot be used to incite violence, develop weapons, or spy on anyone.

The US military will not use AI that prevents warfighting.

The US Department of Defense wants companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to make their tools available on the military's classified networks without any commercial restrictions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently stated, "We will not use AI models that prevent us from fighting wars."

Google and Microsoft are also in the race.

Entropik is the first AI company to be used in military covert operations, but it is not the only one. Elon Musk's company xAI, Google's Gemini, and Microsoft-invested Open AI are also developing specialized AI platforms for the military. These are currently used to analyze documents, create reports, and conduct research.

What is Anthropic's 'Cloud' AI?

Cloud is an advanced AI chatbot that specializes in tasks like text generation, data analysis, and coding. It was launched in 2021 by former Open AI executives.

After a recent funding round, Anthropic's valuation has reached $380 billion, or approximately Rs 34 lakh crore.

Knowledge Part: How does AI help in warfare?

AI is primarily used in military operations for the following tasks:

Data analysis: Analyzing satellite images of enemy positions.

Intelligence summaries: Preparing summaries of thousands of intelligence documents.

Logistics: Determining the precise timing of the movement of weapons and troops.

Target Identification: Identifying hidden targets in dense residential areas.