Anthropic vs. the Pentagon, the SaaSpocalypse, and why competitions is good, actually

Anthropic vs. the Pentagon, the SaaSpocalypse, and why competitions is good, actually
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify The Pentagon has officially designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk after the two failed to agree on how much control the military should have over its AI models, including its use in autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance.

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<p id="speakable-summary" class="has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph">The Pentagon has officially <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/its-official-the-pentagon-has-labeled-anthropic-a-supply-chain-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk</a> after the two failed to agree on how much control the military should have over its AI models, including its use in autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. As Anthropic’s $200 million contract fell apart, the DoD turned to OpenAI instead, which accepted and then watched <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/chatgpt-uninstalls-surged-by-295-after-dod-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT uninstalls surge 295%</a>. As the stakes keep rising, the question remains: how much unrestricted access should the military have to an AI model? </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into what startups should think about when chasing federal contracts, especially when <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/openai-anthropic-department-of-defense-war-hegseth-ai-companies-work-with-us-government/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nobody seems to know what to do with AI</a> in Washington, and more of the week’s headlines. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Listen to the full episode to hear more about: </p>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li class="wp-block-list-item">Paramount’s massive deal with Warner Bros, and the Equity crew’s ideas for what the new <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/paramount-and-hbo-max-to-merge-into-one-streaming-service-after-wbd-deal-closes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HBO Max-Paramount+ hybrid</a> should be called </li>
</ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li class="wp-block-list-item"><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/myfitnesspal-has-acquired-cal-ai-the-viral-calorie-app-built-by-teens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MyFitnessPal’s acquisition of Cal AI</a>, the calorie-tracking app built by teenagers </li>
</ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li class="wp-block-list-item">Who dropped <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/03/activist-investor-elliot-takes-a-1b-stake-in-pinterest-betting-on-ai-driven-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$1 billion on Pinterest’s AI mission</a> and how the company spent it on share buybacks. (Spoiler: Kirsten has thoughts.) </li>
</ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li class="wp-block-list-item">Anduril is raising again at a reported <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/03/anduril-aims-at-60-billion-valuation-in-new-funding-round/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$60 billion valuation</a> </li>
</ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li class="wp-block-list-item">Whether companies should brace themselves for <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/01/saas-in-saas-out-heres-whats-driving-the-saaspocalypse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the SaaSpocalypse</a>, or if it’s just another chapter of the AI hype cycle </li>
</ul>
<p class="has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph">Subscribe to Equity on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TechCrunch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">YouTube</a>,<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1215439780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Apple Podcasts</a>,<a href="https://overcast.fm/itunes1215439780/equity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Overcast</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=rZDFHv2sQUul_g94iCRgpQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Spotify</a> and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on<a href="https://twitter.com/EquityPod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> X</a> and<a href="https://www.threads.net/@equitypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Threads</a>, at @EquityPod. </p>