FILE PHOTO: Anthropic logo is seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) -Artificial intelligence company Anthropic launched a National Security and Public Sector Advisory Council on Wednesday, aiming to deepen ties with Washington and allied governments as AI becomes increasingly central to defense and strategic planning.

The move underscores AI firms' growing efforts to shape policies and ensure their technology supports democratic interests amid global competition.

The launch also comes as rivals such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind step up engagement with governments and regulators on AI safety, though neither has announced a dedicated national security advisory council.

Anthropic's council brings together former senators and senior officials from the U.S. Defense Department, intelligence agencies as well as energy and justice departments.

It will advise Anthropic on integrating AI into sensitive government operations while shaping standards for security, ethics and compliance.

Its members include Roy Blunt, a former senator and intelligence committee member, David S. Cohen, a former deputy CIA director, and Richard Fontaine, who leads the Center for a New American Security.

Other appointees held top legal and nuclear security roles across Republican and Democratic administrations.

Anthropic said the group will advise on high-impact applications in cybersecurity, intelligence analysis and scientific research, while helping set industry standards for responsible AI use.

The company plans to expand the council as partnerships with public-sector institutions grow.

The announcement follows Anthropic's $200 million agreement with the Pentagon last month to develop AI tools for defense, highlighting the sector's push to balance innovation with security risks.

The initiative reflects intensifying global competition over AI capabilities, with Washington seeking to maintain an edge against rivals such as China and Russia.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)