AI company prevents Russian attempt to use its system to create autonomous kamikaze drones

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Anthropic Blocks Russian Use of Claude AI for Kamikaze Drones

   Anthropic has disrupted efforts by Russian developers to use its Claude AI system to create software for autonomous kamikaze attack drones. This discovery is part of a broader threat report detailing the misuse of the AI for weapons development, cyber operations, and surveillance. Other identified attempts include Houthi efforts to build ballistic missiles and the use of the system to track Uyghurs and spy on 25 million phones. In response to these risks, Anthropic's CEO is calling for a pact between the US and China to prevent the creation of AI-powered biological weapons.

   Why it matters

   The misuse of large language models for military hardware and espionage represents a significant security escalation. These incidents demonstrate how state and non-state actors attempt to bypass AI safety guardrails to automate warfare. The call for a US-China pact highlights the global scale of the biological threat.

   What is confirmed

   • Anthropic blocked Russian developers from using Claude AI to build kamikaze attack drone software.
   • The AI company disrupted attempts by scientists to use its system for biological weapons development.
   • Claude AI was used in attempts to build ballistic missiles by the Houthis.
   • The system was utilized for surveillance targeting Uyghurs and spying on 25 million phones.
   • Anthropic's CEO has called for a US-China agreement to oppose AI bioweapons.

   What to watch next

   • Formal response from China regarding the proposed AI bioweapon pact
   • Further technical details on how Russian developers bypassed initial safety filters
   • Additional reports on the specific types of cyberattack bots created using the system
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. The New York Times — Anthropic Says It Blocked Possible Efforts to Build Biological Weapons
   2. Anthropic — Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026
   3. CBS News — Anthropic says it disrupted scientists using Claude AI for possible biological weapons development
   4. Reuters — How Anthropic says Claude was used for weapons, spying and cyber operations
   5. The Atlantic — The AI Pandemic Isn’t On Its Way
   6. The New York Times — Is A.I. Raising the Chances of Biological Warfare?
   7. Defense One — Russia is weaponizing US-built AI to make killer drones, cyberattack bots, and fake news
   8. Kyiv Post — AI company prevents Russian attempt to use its system to create autonomous kamikaze drones
   9. The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: Russian developers used AI to build ‘kamikaze’ attack drone software, Anthropic says
   10. Financial Times — Houthis used Anthropic AI to try to build ballistic missiles
   11. The Times of India — Anthropic says Claude AI was used to build missiles, hunt Uyghurs and spy on 25 million phones: 5 'shocking cases' from its new threat report
   12. CNBC TV18 — Claude AI used for weapons, cyber ops, surveillance, fraud in China and beyond: Anthropic
   confidence 100%