Stephanie Hughes

I'm Stephanie Hughes.

It's Friday, time for Marketplace Tech Bytes, where we look at a few of the big stories in the tech industry.

This week, OpenAI turns to consultants to get more companies to integrate AI coworkers.

Plus, Apple will be making its Mac Mini in Texas.

But first, this week, U.S.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, reportedly asking for unfettered access to the company's AI model.

If it doesn't get that, it's threatened to cancel a $200 million contract it has with the company.

This comes after Anthropic's AI model, Claude, was reportedly used as part of the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Anthropic has said it doesn't want its technology used to develop weapons or for mass surveillance of Americans.

Axios tech policy reporter Maria Curie has been reporting on this.

Yeah, you were the first to report on this ultimatum.

You heard from one defense official who said, quote, the only reason we're still talking to these people is we need them and we need them now.

How does the Pentagon already rely on anthropics tech?

Do you have a sense of what giving the DOD unfettered access to Claude would mean?

How much does Anthropic need both the money in this contract specifically and the military as a client generally?

So what other AI companies are competing with Anthropic to fill this space?

We'll be right back.

You're listening to Marketplace Tech.

I'm Stephanie Hughes.

We're back with Maria Curie, tech policy reporter at Axios.