Shortly after OpenAI announced that it would offer its ChatGPT Enterprise to the federal government for a symbolic $1, the artificial intelligence startup company Anthropic announced on Tuesday (August 12) that it would provide two versions of its AI model “Claude” to the three branches of the U.S. federal government – executive, legislative, and judicial departments – also for just $1.
According to a press release from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the agreement named OneGov will make both the government version of Claude (Claude for Government) and the enterprise version (Claude for Enterprise) available to all federal agencies for the next year for a symbolic $1. The GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule has incorporated Claude, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Google’s Gemini to facilitate the quick procurement of these AI tools by government departments.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said, “For the United States to maintain a leading position in AI, it’s crucial to ensure that government agencies have access to the safest and most advanced AI tools. By promoting Claude across the three branches of government, we are helping federal employees unleash the potential of AI to better serve the American people.”
As early as August 6, OpenAI had reached an agreement with GSA to provide ChatGPT Enterprise to all federal agencies in the executive branch, with each agency only needing to pay $1 a year for a period of one year.
GSA Administrator Michael Rigas stated that this milestone represents an important step in advancing AI adoption within the government, which will help enhance government efficiency and service quality.
FedScoop reported that Claude for Government has received FedRAMP High security certification, making it suitable for handling highly sensitive but non-confidential data, while Claude for Enterprise offers enhanced data protection features. Anthropic will also provide technical support to assist government agencies in integrating Claude into their workflows quickly, thereby improving efficiency and modernization.
Currently, several federal government units have adopted Claude. For example, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy has nearly 10,000 scientists and researchers using Claude on a daily basis to accelerate research. The DC Department of Health also uses this tool to assist residents in accessing health resources in multiple languages.
The Financial Times reported that Anthropic’s move not only aligns with OpenAI’s strategy but also aims to deepen its technological cooperation with the government. While these agreements may not directly bring in high profits, they allow these AI companies to understand government needs, serving as references for future corporate strategies and product development.
The Trump administration released the “Artificial Intelligence Action Plan” at the end of July, actively promoting the application of AI within the federal government. The GSA has repeatedly emphasized the critical importance of such AI procurement collaborations in enhancing government efficiency and innovation.