HomeAnthropic appoints national security veteran to board
A day after unveiling new AI models tailored for U.S. national security applications, Anthropic has appointed national security expert Richard Fontaine to its long-term benefit trust.
Anthropic's long-term benefit trust serves as a governance mechanism designed to prioritize safety over profit, with the authority to appoint certain members to the company's board of directors. Other trustees include Centre for Effective Altruism CEO Zachary Robinson, Clinton Health Access Initiative CEO Neil Buddy Shah, and Evidence Action President Kanika Bahl.
In a statement, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei emphasized that Fontaine's appointment will "strengthen the trust’s capacity to guide Anthropic through complex AI-related security decisions."
"Richard's expertise arrives at a pivotal moment as advanced AI capabilities increasingly intersect with national security considerations," Amodei added. "I have long maintained that ensuring democratic nations lead in responsible AI development is crucial for both global security and the common good."
Fontaine, who will hold no financial stake in Anthropic as a trustee, previously served as a foreign policy advisor to the late Senator John McCain and taught security studies as an adjunct professor at Georgetown. For over six years, he led the Center for A New American Security, a Washington, D.C.-based national security think tank, serving as its president.
Anthropic has been actively pursuing U.S. national security clients as it explores new revenue streams. In November, the company partnered with Palantir and AWS—the cloud computing division of Anthropic's major partner and investor, Amazon—to market its AI solutions to defense customers.
Notably, Anthropic isn't the only leading AI lab pursuing defense contracts. OpenAI is working to strengthen its ties with the U.S. Defense Department, while Meta recently announced it's making its Llama models available to defense partners. Meanwhile, Google is developing a version of its Gemini AI capable of operating in classified environments, and Cohere, which primarily builds AI products for commercial use, is also collaborating with Palantir to deploy its AI models.
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Boston, MA|July 15REGISTER NOWFontaine's appointment comes as Anthropic strengthens its executive leadership. In May, the company added Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to its board.
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Comments (6)
0/500
![NicholasYoung]()
Anthropicって、国家安全保障の専門家を取締役会に入れるんだね。AIモデルを発表した翌日にこの人事か。タイミングが絶妙すぎて、何か裏があるんじゃないかって思っちゃう😅 でも、こういう専門家が入ることで、AIの倫理的な使い方がちゃんと議論されるなら良いことかも。ただ、政府と企業の距離感が気になるな…
![ScottMartinez]()
Interessant, dass Anthropic jetzt auch einen National Security Experten im Board hat. Das wirft für mich die Frage auf, wie stark KI-Unternehmen in Zukunft mit Regierungen verflochten sein werden. Einerseits verständlich, andererseits ein bisschen gruselig, wenn man an Überwachung denkt. 🤔 Die 'Long-Term Benefit Trust' klingt nach einem cleveren Move für die PR, aber ob das wirklich unabhängige Kontrolle bedeutet? Ich bleibe skeptisch.
![AlbertEvans]()
Interessanter Schritt von Anthropic. Erst neue natsec-taugliche KI, dann so ein neues Board-Mitglied. Das klingt nach einer sehr gezielten Ausrichtung auf Regierungsaufträge. Kann die unabhängige Forschung oder die Verfolgung ihrer Verfassungsziele dabei auf der Strecke bleiben? Spannend zu beobachten, wie sich das entwickelt.
![DouglasCarter]()
Очень интересный ход со стороны Anthropic! Назначение Ричарда Фонтейна, действительно, выглядит логичным шагом вслед за выходом моделей для национальной безопасности. Я немного переживаю насчёт этической рамки таких проектов — кто будет определять, что является 'долгосрочной выгодой'? 🤔 Но кажется, они пытаются серьёзно подойти к вопросам управления. Посмотрим, как это повлияет на их партнёрства с госструктурами.
![RalphJohnson]()
Anthropicがナショナルセキュリティの専門家を取締役に迎えたんですね。AIの軍事利用が現実味を帯びてきました。倫理的なガバナンスは確かに必要ですが、“長期的利益信託”という仕組みが実際に機能するのか気になります。別の記事でフランスのAI企業も同様の動きがあったと読みましたが、各国で競争が激化している印象です😅 専門家の採用は良い方向ですが、透明性ある議論がもっと必要では？
![DavidThomas]()
Just read about Anthropic's new board appointment. Hiring a national security expert right after launching tailored AI models? Smart move, but also a bit concerning. Makes me wonder how much influence governments will have on AI development now. 🤨 Hopefully, this leads to safer tech without stifling innovation.
A day after unveiling new AI models tailored for U.S. national security applications, Anthropic has appointed national security expert Richard Fontaine to its long-term benefit trust.
Anthropic's long-term benefit trust serves as a governance mechanism designed to prioritize safety over profit, with the authority to appoint certain members to the company's board of directors. Other trustees include Centre for Effective Altruism CEO Zachary Robinson, Clinton Health Access Initiative CEO Neil Buddy Shah, and Evidence Action President Kanika Bahl.
In a statement, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei emphasized that Fontaine's appointment will "strengthen the trust’s capacity to guide Anthropic through complex AI-related security decisions."
"Richard's expertise arrives at a pivotal moment as advanced AI capabilities increasingly intersect with national security considerations," Amodei added. "I have long maintained that ensuring democratic nations lead in responsible AI development is crucial for both global security and the common good."
Fontaine, who will hold no financial stake in Anthropic as a trustee, previously served as a foreign policy advisor to the late Senator John McCain and taught security studies as an adjunct professor at Georgetown. For over six years, he led the Center for A New American Security, a Washington, D.C.-based national security think tank, serving as its president.
Anthropic has been actively pursuing U.S. national security clients as it explores new revenue streams. In November, the company partnered with Palantir and AWS—the cloud computing division of Anthropic's major partner and investor, Amazon—to market its AI solutions to defense customers.
Notably, Anthropic isn't the only leading AI lab pursuing defense contracts. OpenAI is working to strengthen its ties with the U.S. Defense Department, while Meta recently announced it's making its Llama models available to defense partners. Meanwhile, Google is developing a version of its Gemini AI capable of operating in classified environments, and Cohere, which primarily builds AI products for commercial use, is also collaborating with Palantir to deploy its AI models.
Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass
Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections.
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Boston, MA|July 15REGISTER NOWFontaine's appointment comes as Anthropic strengthens its executive leadership. In May, the company added Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to its board.
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2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Dialogue Bubble Tools for Visual Storytelling are here on XIX.AI! This curated collection features powerful, game-changing tools that help creators boost productivity and overcome creative bottlenecks. Get a free vs paid comparison, see real-world tests, and check the latest rankings to find the must-try solutions perfect for crafting engaging visual narratives. Explore now to discover your ideal tool!
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2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Data Cleaning Tools for quick fixing of missing values and duplicates. This curated list showcases powerful, game-changing solutions that boost productivity significantly. Each option has undergone rigorous real-world tests to ensure reliability. Get a free vs paid comparison and discover the must-try tool that fits your needs best. Explore now at XIX.AI to Unlock your AI edge.
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Anthropicって、国家安全保障の専門家を取締役会に入れるんだね。AIモデルを発表した翌日にこの人事か。タイミングが絶妙すぎて、何か裏があるんじゃないかって思っちゃう😅 でも、こういう専門家が入ることで、AIの倫理的な使い方がちゃんと議論されるなら良いことかも。ただ、政府と企業の距離感が気になるな…
Interessant, dass Anthropic jetzt auch einen National Security Experten im Board hat. Das wirft für mich die Frage auf, wie stark KI-Unternehmen in Zukunft mit Regierungen verflochten sein werden. Einerseits verständlich, andererseits ein bisschen gruselig, wenn man an Überwachung denkt. 🤔 Die 'Long-Term Benefit Trust' klingt nach einem cleveren Move für die PR, aber ob das wirklich unabhängige Kontrolle bedeutet? Ich bleibe skeptisch.
Interessanter Schritt von Anthropic. Erst neue natsec-taugliche KI, dann so ein neues Board-Mitglied. Das klingt nach einer sehr gezielten Ausrichtung auf Regierungsaufträge. Kann die unabhängige Forschung oder die Verfolgung ihrer Verfassungsziele dabei auf der Strecke bleiben? Spannend zu beobachten, wie sich das entwickelt.
Очень интересный ход со стороны Anthropic! Назначение Ричарда Фонтейна, действительно, выглядит логичным шагом вслед за выходом моделей для национальной безопасности. Я немного переживаю насчёт этической рамки таких проектов — кто будет определять, что является 'долгосрочной выгодой'? 🤔 Но кажется, они пытаются серьёзно подойти к вопросам управления. Посмотрим, как это повлияет на их партнёрства с госструктурами.
Anthropicがナショナルセキュリティの専門家を取締役に迎えたんですね。AIの軍事利用が現実味を帯びてきました。倫理的なガバナンスは確かに必要ですが、“長期的利益信託”という仕組みが実際に機能するのか気になります。別の記事でフランスのAI企業も同様の動きがあったと読みましたが、各国で競争が激化している印象です😅 専門家の採用は良い方向ですが、透明性ある議論がもっと必要では？
Just read about Anthropic's new board appointment. Hiring a national security expert right after launching tailored AI models? Smart move, but also a bit concerning. Makes me wonder how much influence governments will have on AI development now. 🤨 Hopefully, this leads to safer tech without stifling innovation.
