USA Used Claude AI Model to Capture Nicolás Maduro

The US military used artificial intelligence tools from Anthropic during a secret operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing its own sources.

The mission, which took place last month in Caracas, was the first confirmed case of Anthropic models being used in secret operations by the US Department of Defense.

The use of the Claude model was made possible by Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir Technologies, whose software is the basis for analytics at the Pentagon and federal law enforcement agencies.

Although the exact list of AI tasks in this operation has not been disclosed, the military typically uses such tools for rapid document analysis, processing of intercepted data, and control of autonomous drones.

This incident sparked a sharp conflict between the developer and the US government. Anthropic’s rules officially prohibit the use of Claude to promote violence, develop weapons, or conduct surveillance.

Due to these ethical restrictions, the Trump administration is already considering canceling a $200 million contract with Anthropic. Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth previously stated that the department would not work with models that ‘prohibit warfare,’ hinting specifically at Claude’s strict security filters.

Maduro’s capture

Operation Absolute Resolve began at dawn on January 3, 2026. US Delta Force special forces, supported by aviation, raided targets in Caracas, having first suppressed Venezuela’s air defense system.

More than 150 aircraft took part in the mission, and technology to disable communications and electricity was used during the assault itself. According to the fighters, just before the assault on the government quarter, all radars in the air defense units suddenly failed.

After American drones and helicopters appeared in the sky, the soldiers felt the effect of a powerful energy wave that effectively suppressed any possibility of resistance.

One Venezuelan soldier described unbearable internal pain, disorientation, and a feeling of “his head splitting open from the inside.” Many soldiers began to experience massive nosebleeds and internal bleeding, which literally prevented them from getting up off the ground.

Maduro and his wife were detained at their residence and immediately taken to the United States.