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Notes -
This to me illustrates the disconnect in perspective. Anthropic has been very open IMO that they see AI as the most disruptive tech of the modern era and the likely source of all future power and prestige. And the government is at least aware of the possibility that this is true.
One perspective on what's happening is that it's less about 'do we have to do this silly new customer requirement' and more 'who gets to own, train and use the god-machine'? Of course the government cares about who owns and trains and controls Claude. It's a straightforward power struggle rather than a disagreement with a contractor - the government is sending a very strong message that private companies are allowed to provide this stuff and reap the rewards but ultimately power and control rests with the government and not with Silicon Valley execs. It's the same kind of thing that played out with social media and the government, and with crypto and the government. For better or for worse, non-government actors can't one-clever-trick themselves into a position of serious power over the country* and the government doesn't appreciate you trying.
*at least, not in the formal, nerdy way. You have to act like the Somalis / actual NGOs / Musk and get at least part of the government on your side and play the factions and the politics.
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