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Anthropic blocks possible attempt to use AI to make biological weapons

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Why This Matters

Anthropic says it disrupted attempts to use its Claude models for malicious activity that could aid biological weapons development, alongside Russian espionage, Iranian propaganda and a range of scams and surveillance tools. Google reported a similar attempt involving Gemini, making clear that frontier AI safeguards are being actively probed by state-linked and criminal actors. The disclosures land amid a widening policy fight over whether advanced AI development should be slowed or accelerated.

Key Takeaways

Anthropic says it has identified and disrupted attempts to use its AI model for "malicious activity" which could support the development of biological weapons.

The findings, made in the firm's recent threat intelligence report, is the latest in a growing series of warnings from AI researchers and industry insiders about the technology's potential risks to humanity.

The warnings have prompted calls to action, with US Senator Bernie Sanders demanding a pause on advanced AI development and a ban on artificial superintelligence.

President Donald Trump has so far rejected such fears, saying on Thursday he was concerned "if we don't win AI, we're going to be put in a very bad position".

The company published its latest threat intelligence report, external on Thursday.

Such reports have become a regular feature across the AI industry as firms seek to demonstrate how they identify and disrupt attempts to misuse their models.

This includes Google, which wrote on Tuesday, external that a person had attempted to use its AI tool, Gemini, to obtain a "complete, step-by-step technical guide for synthesizing weaponised biological agents".

Claude, Anthropic's AI model was also used by actors linked to a Russia-based cyber espionage campaign and by an Iranian propaganda institution, according to its report.

The cases of concern detected over the past eight months ranged from fake dating apps and hotel Wifi scams, to surveillance built to identify dissidents.

Anthropic has also accused Chinese AI firms of trying to replicate Claude's capabilities.

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