360+ Tech Workers Unite Behind AI Ethics Stand

When Anthropic drew a line in the sand against military misuse of AI, employees at rival tech companies did something remarkable. They stood up to support their competitor's principles.

Over 300 Google employees and 60 OpenAI workers signed an open letter urging their own bosses to back Anthropic's stance. The AI company is facing Pentagon threats for refusing to allow its technology to be used for domestic mass surveillance or fully autonomous weaponry.

The Pentagon gave Anthropic until Friday to comply or face consequences. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to declare the company either a "supply chain risk" or invoke the Defense Production Act to force compliance. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei isn't budging.

"These threats do not change our position," Amodei stated Thursday. "We cannot in good conscience accede to their request."

What makes this moment special is the solidarity. Tech companies usually compete fiercely, but workers are urging their leaders to "put aside their differences and stand together" on fundamental ethical boundaries.

"They're trying to divide each company with fear that the other will give in," the letter reads. "That strategy only works if none of us know where the others stand."

The support extends beyond rank and file workers. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told CNBC he doesn't think the Pentagon should be threatening these companies. Google DeepMind Chief Scientist Jeff Dean spoke out against mass surveillance as a Fourth Amendment violation with a chilling effect on free expression.

The Ripple Effect

This cross-company solidarity could reshape how the tech industry responds to government pressure. When employees at competing firms unite around shared values, it sends a powerful message that some boundaries matter more than market advantage.

The moment also reveals growing employee power in tech. Workers are increasingly willing to speak up when they believe their companies' technology could cause harm, even if it means challenging lucrative government contracts.

OpenAI confirmed it shares Anthropic's red lines on autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. While company leaders haven't formally responded to the letter yet, informal statements suggest sympathy for Anthropic's position.

The military already uses AI tools from Google, OpenAI, and X for unclassified work and has been negotiating for classified applications. Anthropic maintains an existing Pentagon partnership but won't cross its stated ethical boundaries.

When hundreds of workers risk speaking out to defend a competitor's principles, it shows that progress on AI ethics isn't just about technology but about the people building it refusing to compromise their values.