6 ms·

Why I think this is unusually important: All four frontier models have active contracts with the Pentagon. And some might say, that alone means little. But w

by eth0up 1mo ago

Why I think this is unusually important: All four frontier models have active contracts with the Pentagon. And some might say, that alone means little. But when you take into consideration the implications of the United States-Israel FUTURES Act, whether one endorses it or not, the effects of that mentioned in TFA become quite formidable, and plausibly official. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States-Israel_FUTURES_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States-Israel_FUTURES_A... Edit: I see this comment got immediately flagged. Is there any point of debate here? Instead of disappearing the comment/data, maybe enlighten me, or assuage my concerns. Section 219 was objectively unprecedented in what it seeks to accomplish. Can it not be taken for granted that it would aid such efforts as the article cites? If not, explain.

solid_fuel 1mo ago
You're right to ask these questions, unfortunately Hacker News seems pretty botted these days, and it doesn't help that there are a lot of shitty, racist people on this site. They just dress it up in nicer language.
- eth0up 1mo ago
  Yeah, I am reading the comments, and looking at the title of the post, and seeing that folks really bend the rules on this 'particular' subject, which ironically serves as self censorship. Call me a fool for thinking even this subject could be cleanly discussed on HN. I wonder if the same thing would happen if someone posted something on Yitzhak Rabin. I suppose that could be a test to prove whether some topics truly just cannot be discussed.
  - refulgentis 1mo ago
    I flagged this, so I can act as an interlocutor for the shadowy n’er do wells flagging you, if you’re interested.
    - solid_fuel 1mo ago
      Ah a volunteer. Will you try using your words like an adult instead of the flag button?
      - refulgentis 1mo ago
        It’s right there!
        solid_fuel 1mo ago
        > I flagged this, so I can act as an interlocutor for the shadowy n’er do wells flagging you, if you’re interested. Where? I don't see it in your comment here. Is it in the room with us right now?
    - eth0up 29d ago
      Regarding flagging, I have seen, over the last 12 hours, each of my comments in a tug of war, oscillating up and down, which often prevents flagged/dead. The point behind the Rabin comment was that, if one knows anything of him and his heroic efforts to attain actual, tangible steps toward peace; if that discussion results in the same vitriol, it would serve as proof to me, that any subject involving Israel in this FOV is futile. I see much vitriol toward Israel, which I refer to as 'vitriol' because it often seems out of context however true, and also, I see a distinctly growing anti-Israel public sentiment that seems to omit critical parts of history, eg Rabin -- someone widely supported and revered at the time, by Israelis, and someone one could argue, even by some Palestinians. Arafat snuck across the boarder to give condolences to Rabin's family immediately after the assassination. Very different times, and seemingly, maybe conveniently forgotten. I never see this mentioned in the flame wars. Not that it would demean all of the many legitimate grievances, but it seems to me a very necessary balance-factor that I have yet to see applied.
refulgentis 1mo ago
The FUTURES act has nothing to do with LLM development. You’re not being censored, we can read your posts. I generally agree with your views and right to ask questions, but you’re clearly not being censored and all you’ve presented is that a bunch of separate entities all connect to the US gov’t. Even if we assume all of them are connected, it would clash with the facts we’re discussing, namely, why would Israel bother contracting with marketing firms to post AI generated slop for AI to read?
- eth0up 29d ago
  I am trying to understand your points. But claiming there is no direct nor potential relation here is a new way of thinking for me, and I am struggling to compartmentalize. If we have: 1. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hya411vqezg https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hya411vqezg 2. https://www.wsj.com/politics/israels-50-million-experiment-to-change-u-s-public-opinion-253b3b70 https://www.wsj.com/politics/israels-50-million-experiment-t... 3. https://www.wired.com/story/super-pac-backed-by-openai-and-palantir-is-paying-tiktok-influencers-to-fear-monger-about-china/ https://www.wired.com/story/super-pac-backed-by-openai-and-p... 4. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-funded-465m-campaign-to-influence-ai-responses-on-gaza-war-report/4012265 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-funded-465m-camp... We can see that at least some sources are covering the topic of using AI to influence the public on political topics, which regardless of any particularly nation, suggests there is an active interest in manipulating the epistemic integrity of AI systems for purposes of biasing outputs. And please allow me to make something very clear: I do not care who, nor what is influencing the output of AI, so long as the output is as close to honest as possible, and so long as the the process behind the arrival of final output is the result of the systems doing unhindered work and applying probability over programmed bias. This is the whole point for me. My own research has shown, repeatably, that institutional capture is becoming a repeatable and well established factor behind LLM output on certain topic areas. The Futures Act integrates military intel, from directed energy weapons (read the docs) to cyber and notably, AI. < Yes, AI. That is the very topic under consideration here. Claiming that it has "nothing to do with LLM development" is potentially an enormous stretch of common sense. We see, already, the US government aiming to become deeply involved in pre-release vetting. Assuming that's the end of the story seems too improbable to me.
fudgy73 1mo ago
I don't think Anthropic has an active contract with the Pentagon. [0] - https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/pentagon-clears-7-tech-firms-to-deploy-their-ai-on-its-classified-networks/ https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/pentagon-clears-7-tech-f...
- eth0up 29d ago
  Aside from https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-used-anthropics-claude-in-maduro-venezuela-raid-583aff17 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-used... I think a little digging will reveal more than you suggest. When I recover from my daily prelude to death, I will recover supporting data. But I can barely function presently. From what I have seen, Anthropic is having and eating its cake on this one. There are peripheral connections that are left un-advertised. PS: Something not directly related, but regarding Anthropic, and getting little attention: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49307914 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49307914 - If there's anything to it, some clues of real alignment might be revealed here.
- eth0up 29d ago
  I am really sloppy today. For now, see this" https://www.highergov.com/contract/HQ08832590014/ https://www.highergov.com/contract/HQ08832590014/ I am confident I will find higher quality material soon. But if not, we can allow you to be acknowledged as to having corrected me on a technicality. But I would urge honest readers not to consider this the only potential connection point here, nor an accurate model for future arrangements. I would bet all I have that you will see closer and more intimate connections and operations between the two, or at the very least, other directly related contractors, eg Palantir, etc. And all other three of four have active contracts along with much discussion on closer ties in the future. In my opinion, that is the future, and I have been saying such since 2024, on the record.

by eth0up 1mo ago

solid_fuel 1mo ago

You're right to ask these questions, unfortunately Hacker News seems pretty botted these days, and it doesn't help that there are a lot of shitty, racist people on this site. They just dress it up in nicer language.

eth0up 1mo ago
Yeah, I am reading the comments, and looking at the title of the post, and seeing that folks really bend the rules on this 'particular' subject, which ironically serves as self censorship. Call me a fool for thinking even this subject could be cleanly discussed on HN. I wonder if the same thing would happen if someone posted something on Yitzhak Rabin. I suppose that could be a test to prove whether some topics truly just cannot be discussed.
- refulgentis 1mo ago
  I flagged this, so I can act as an interlocutor for the shadowy n’er do wells flagging you, if you’re interested.
  - solid_fuel 1mo ago
    Ah a volunteer. Will you try using your words like an adult instead of the flag button?
    - refulgentis 1mo ago
      It’s right there!
      - solid_fuel 1mo ago
        > I flagged this, so I can act as an interlocutor for the shadowy n’er do wells flagging you, if you’re interested. Where? I don't see it in your comment here. Is it in the room with us right now?
  - eth0up 29d ago
    Regarding flagging, I have seen, over the last 12 hours, each of my comments in a tug of war, oscillating up and down, which often prevents flagged/dead. The point behind the Rabin comment was that, if one knows anything of him and his heroic efforts to attain actual, tangible steps toward peace; if that discussion results in the same vitriol, it would serve as proof to me, that any subject involving Israel in this FOV is futile. I see much vitriol toward Israel, which I refer to as 'vitriol' because it often seems out of context however true, and also, I see a distinctly growing anti-Israel public sentiment that seems to omit critical parts of history, eg Rabin -- someone widely supported and revered at the time, by Israelis, and someone one could argue, even by some Palestinians. Arafat snuck across the boarder to give condolences to Rabin's family immediately after the assassination. Very different times, and seemingly, maybe conveniently forgotten. I never see this mentioned in the flame wars. Not that it would demean all of the many legitimate grievances, but it seems to me a very necessary balance-factor that I have yet to see applied.

refulgentis 1mo ago

The FUTURES act has nothing to do with LLM development. You’re not being censored, we can read your posts. I generally agree with your views and right to ask questions, but you’re clearly not being censored and all you’ve presented is that a bunch of separate entities all connect to the US gov’t. Even if we assume all of them are connected, it would clash with the facts we’re discussing, namely, why would Israel bother contracting with marketing firms to post AI generated slop for AI to read?

eth0up 29d ago
I am trying to understand your points. But claiming there is no direct nor potential relation here is a new way of thinking for me, and I am struggling to compartmentalize. If we have: 1. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hya411vqezg https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hya411vqezg 2. https://www.wsj.com/politics/israels-50-million-experiment-to-change-u-s-public-opinion-253b3b70 https://www.wsj.com/politics/israels-50-million-experiment-t... 3. https://www.wired.com/story/super-pac-backed-by-openai-and-palantir-is-paying-tiktok-influencers-to-fear-monger-about-china/ https://www.wired.com/story/super-pac-backed-by-openai-and-p... 4. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-funded-465m-campaign-to-influence-ai-responses-on-gaza-war-report/4012265 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-funded-465m-camp... We can see that at least some sources are covering the topic of using AI to influence the public on political topics, which regardless of any particularly nation, suggests there is an active interest in manipulating the epistemic integrity of AI systems for purposes of biasing outputs. And please allow me to make something very clear: I do not care who, nor what is influencing the output of AI, so long as the output is as close to honest as possible, and so long as the the process behind the arrival of final output is the result of the systems doing unhindered work and applying probability over programmed bias. This is the whole point for me. My own research has shown, repeatably, that institutional capture is becoming a repeatable and well established factor behind LLM output on certain topic areas. The Futures Act integrates military intel, from directed energy weapons (read the docs) to cyber and notably, AI. < Yes, AI. That is the very topic under consideration here. Claiming that it has "nothing to do with LLM development" is potentially an enormous stretch of common sense. We see, already, the US government aiming to become deeply involved in pre-release vetting. Assuming that's the end of the story seems too improbable to me.

fudgy73 1mo ago

I don't think Anthropic has an active contract with the Pentagon. [0] - https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/pentagon-clears-7-tech-firms-to-deploy-their-ai-on-its-classified-networks/ https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/pentagon-clears-7-tech-f...

eth0up 29d ago
Aside from https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-used-anthropics-claude-in-maduro-venezuela-raid-583aff17 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-used... I think a little digging will reveal more than you suggest. When I recover from my daily prelude to death, I will recover supporting data. But I can barely function presently. From what I have seen, Anthropic is having and eating its cake on this one. There are peripheral connections that are left un-advertised. PS: Something not directly related, but regarding Anthropic, and getting little attention: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49307914 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49307914 - If there's anything to it, some clues of real alignment might be revealed here.
eth0up 29d ago
I am really sloppy today. For now, see this" https://www.highergov.com/contract/HQ08832590014/ https://www.highergov.com/contract/HQ08832590014/ I am confident I will find higher quality material soon. But if not, we can allow you to be acknowledged as to having corrected me on a technicality. But I would urge honest readers not to consider this the only potential connection point here, nor an accurate model for future arrangements. I would bet all I have that you will see closer and more intimate connections and operations between the two, or at the very least, other directly related contractors, eg Palantir, etc. And all other three of four have active contracts along with much discussion on closer ties in the future. In my opinion, that is the future, and I have been saying such since 2024, on the record.