The US Department of Defense utilized the AI tool ‘Claude’ for a high-stakes operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking a groundbreaking instance of AI in covert military actions. Reports from The Wall Street Journal detail that the US military apprehended Maduro after airstrikes in Caracas on January 3, 2026, where he faces drug trafficking charges and is now held in New York. The AI was deployed via Palantir, a data analytics firm linked with the military. Despite concerns, Anthropic, Claude’s creator, enforced strict usage guidelines against violence and espionage. The DoD, however, is advocating for unrestricted access to AI tools like Claude to enhance military capabilities. This operation has drawn attention not only to AI’s role in warfare but also to the competitive landscape among tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Elon Musk’s xAI. The incident underscores the intersection of AI technology, military strategy, and geopolitical tensions.
