Amodei Apologizes for Leaked Memo, Vows Legal Action: Claude Hits No.1 in 20 Countries

Since the leaked internal memo covered in our previous article, events have moved fast. Amodei officially apologized for the memo's tone on March 6, the Pentagon designated Anthropic as the first-ever U.S. company labeled a supply chain risk, and Claude is experiencing unprecedented consumer growth. Apology, counterattack, and explosive growth are happening simultaneously.

1. Amodei's Apology: Sorry for the Tone, Not the Stance

Amodei said "it was a difficult day for the company, and I apologize for the tone of the post," adding that it "does not reflect my careful or considered views" and was "written six days ago, an out-of-date assessment." However, he did not walk back his core position on AI safety: no autonomous weapons, no mass surveillance.

The context matters. The leak jeopardized Pentagon negotiations, and his sharp language about the Trump administration created political blowback. The apology was about tone, not message.

2. Claude Hits No.1 in 20 Countries: Consumers Cast Their Vote

Paradoxically, the memo leak gave Anthropic its biggest consumer growth ever. ChatGPT uninstalls surged 295% in a single day, and Claude claimed the No.1 spot on the App Store in 20 countries including the United States. Over one million new users are signing up daily.

The #QuitGPT campaign has rallied over 1.5 million supporters, with protests held outside OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters. Consumers are voting with their wallets on the ethical choices of AI companies.

3. Pentagon Supply Chain Risk Designation and Legal Challenge

The Pentagon officially designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk, effective immediately. It is the first time a U.S. company has ever received this label, a measure previously reserved for foreign adversaries.

Amodei declared that "we do not believe this action is legally sound, and we see no choice but to challenge it in court," signaling a federal lawsuit. However, analysts note the designation primarily affects direct Department of Defense contracts rather than blocking all commercial activity.

4. Industry Solidarity and a Double-Edged Sword

Over 450 employees at OpenAI and Google signed an open letter titled 'We Will Not Be Divided' in support of Anthropic, an unprecedented show of solidarity from rival companies' staff. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly told employees in an internal memo that the company would maintain the same red lines as Anthropic.

Yet this is a double-edged sword. While consumer growth is at historic highs, Anthropic has lost over $200 million in government and defense contract opportunities, and some investors are concerned about political risk. Where to draw the line between holding to principles and sustaining growth is Anthropic's next challenge.