Pentagon Used Anthropic's Claude Model in Operation to Capture Nicolás Maduro

According to findings by The Wall Street Journal journalists, the Claude model played a significant role in planning and executing the Pentagon's operation against the Venezuelan dictator. Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured in January 2026 during a swift raid on the capital of Venezuela, Caracas. The artificial intelligence algorithms were reportedly integrated with systems provided by the corporation Palantir, allowing the military to process data in real-time in an extremely challenging operational environment. Relations between the U.S. government and Venezuela have been tense for years, especially since 2019, when Washington officially recognized Maduro's regime as illegal and imposed severe economic sanctions on the country.The revelation of Claude's role has caused consternation in the tech community, as Anthropic has previously positioned itself as an entity extremely concerned with safety and ethics. The company's official guidelines categorically prohibit the use of its tools for facilitating violence or conducting warfare. Representatives of the startup avoid clear statements, citing contract confidentiality and refraining from commenting on specific military missions. At the same time, experts point out that collaboration with the military is becoming inevitable for AI labs due to massive defense budgets and the demand for information superiority on the modern battlefield. 2026 — the year the raid in Caracas was conducted„We cannot comment on whether Claude was used in a specific operation, but any use must comply with our policies.” — Anthropic SpokespersonThis case highlights the growing tension between Silicon Valley and defense departments. Language models can rapidly analyze intelligence documents, building plans, or enemy logistics, making them invaluable support in operations such as capturing high-profile political targets. While this technology increases the precision of actions, it also carries the risk of uncontrolled escalation and machine error in high-stakes situations. Venezuela possesses some of the world's largest oil reserves, which for decades has placed the country at the center of geopolitical interest among major powers, particularly the United States.Emphasizes the breach of ethics by Anthropic and the risks from the militarization of artificial intelligence without societal oversight. | Accentuates the technological strategic advantage of the USA and the success of the intelligence operation thanks to the use of the latest digital tools.