Pentagon's tech chief accuses AI CEO of 'God-complex'

Technology Mar 07, 2026

Emil Michael, the Pentagon's top tech official, publicly accused Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei of having a "God-complex" after Anthropic refused to loosen restrictions on its Claude AI for military use.
The Pentagon wanted broader access for autonomous weapons and surveillance, but Anthropic pushed back, saying their AI isn't reliable enough for lethal decisions.
Sean Parnell argued that no company can dictate how the Pentagon makes operational decisions, but many users supported Anthropic's stance.

Who is Michael?

Michael has led the Pentagon's AI efforts since 2025 and was formerly a Uber executive.
He previously worked at Uber.