The AI Hype Index: Tensions Rise as AI Becomes a Battleground

2026-03-25 · MIT Tech Review AI · Original

The landscape of AI has turned combative, with Anthropic and the Pentagon clashing over the potential military applications of Anthropic's AI model, Claude. In a surprising twist, OpenAI captivated the Pentagon with a deal that has been criticized as “opportunistic and sloppy.” Meanwhile, ChatGPT has seen a significant decline in users, prompting a mass exodus. To top it off, London witnessed the largest protest against AI technology to date, signaling rising public concern. As tensions mount, Anthropic, the company founded by former OpenAI executives, finds itself in the eye of the storm.