The Pentagon is requesting approximately $55 billion for drone and autonomous warfare programs in its fiscal year 2027 budget, a significant increase from $225 million the previous year. This funding aims to address the challenge posed by inexpensive drones that can overwhelm expensive U.S. defense systems in contemporary conflicts.

On February 28, 2026, American forces mistakenly bombed the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, Iran, killing between 175 and 180 people, primarily young girls. Following the incident, speculation arose regarding whether the AI chatbot Claude played a role in selecting the school as a target.

The Pentagon has designated Palantir's Maven AI as an official program of record, securing multi-year funding. Investment in the platform will increase from $480 million in 2024 to $13 billion.

Palantir's Maven artificial intelligence system will be adopted as an official program of record by the Pentagon, ensuring its long-term integration into U.S. military operations. The system aims to enhance weapons-targeting capabilities for warfighters.

The U.S. military is utilizing AI tools from Palantir to identify targets for airstrikes in Iran, incorporating Anthropic's Claude AI in the process. Lawmakers are advocating for increased oversight and regulations regarding the deployment of AI technology in military operations.

Palantir's Maven AI system, in conjunction with Anthropic's Claude AI, enabled the US military to generate and prioritize 1,000 targets in Iran within 24 hours. The integration of these AI technologies significantly accelerated military planning for the operations.

AI deployment by the military is implicated in the missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Minab, Iran, resulting in the deaths of 150 students, according to Iranian officials. The Pentagon is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Over 100 Google AI employees opposed the use of Gemini for U.S. surveillance and autonomous weapons in a letter to chief scientist Jeff Dean. The situation reflects broader concerns in Silicon Valley regarding the ethical implications of military applications of artificial intelligence.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stated that the company cannot agree to the Pentagon's demands for unrestricted use of its AI technology. This stance has led to increased tensions with the Trump administration, which may result in the loss of contracts and other repercussions.

Anthropic signed a $200 million contract with the Pentagon in July 2025 to provide AI technology for military use. The AI system, Claude, is intended for deployment within the military's classified systems.