How Did Iran Turn American AI Against US Naval Forces?

News Desk

Washington: Iran-linked actors used an advanced American artificial intelligence system to gather information that could potentially be used to target US naval vessels, according to a report cited by the Wall Street Journal.

The report, based on findings released by AI company Anthropic, said a group linked to Iran used its Claude AI model while collecting military maps and satellite imagery and attempting to identify vulnerabilities in ship communication systems.

Anthropic detected the activity and took steps to disrupt and halt the operation. The company later published a report detailing the incident and warning about the potential misuse of advanced AI systems for military and intelligence purposes.

According to the report, the risks associated with such activities extend beyond targeting military assets and could include missile development, psychological warfare and espionage against adversaries.

The revelations come amid growing concerns over the use of artificial intelligence in modern warfare.

Earlier this year, US and Israeli military strikes against Iran reportedly killed more than 550 people, including senior Iranian officials and military commanders. International news agencies have also reported that AI-assisted systems were used during the highly precise operations.

During military operations against Iran, the US Central Command reportedly used Claude, the AI model developed by San Francisco-based Anthropic, for a range of military-related tasks.

The reported use of the same AI technology by Iran-linked actors highlights the growing role of commercial AI systems in military operations and the challenges companies face in preventing their technology from being exploited for hostile purposes.