At a Glance
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei publicly condemned violence by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s internal Slack message highlighted concerns over ICE overreach.
- Tech workers are urging CEOs to cancel contracts with ICE and speak out.
Why it matters:
The statements come amid calls from employees to hold AI companies accountable for the actions of the agencies they contract with, raising questions about corporate responsibility in the U.S. justice system.
Anthropic and OpenAI leaders have responded to a surge of criticism from their own staff after two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. On a Monday night NBC News segment, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said he was “concerned over some of the things we’ve seen in the last few days” and called the violence “horror” in Minnesota. He added that Anthropic has no contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and urged the public to defend democratic values at home. Amodei also praised President Trump for suggesting an independent investigation into the shootings, saying he “needs to defend our own democratic values at home.”
In contrast, a leaked Slack message from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to employees read, “What’s happening with ICE is going too far.” Altman wrote that “there is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what’s happening now” and that the company should “get the distinction right.” He also praised Trump as a “very strong leader” who could “rise to this moment and unite the country.” Altman assured staff that OpenAI would “try to figure out how to actually do the right thing as best we can, engage with leaders and push for our values, and speak up clearly about it as needed.”
Both CEOs have faced pressure from their workforce. Tech workers, including employees of both companies, have called on their leaders to call the White House and demand that ICE leave U.S. cities after the shootings. In an open letter, workers urged CEOs to cancel all contracts with ICE and speak out publicly against ICE’s violence. “We’re glad to hear the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic condemning the ICE murders,” said ICEout.tech organizers, whose identities remain unknown, to News Of Philadelphia. “Now we need to hear from CEOs of Apple, Google, Microsoft and Meta, all of whom have remained silent despite calls all across the industry.”
Public Statements and Corporate Positions
- Anthropic has no contracts with ICE.
- Amodei’s public remarks were made on NBC and on X, where he specifically called out “the horror we’re seeing in Minnesota.”
- Altman’s internal message was leaked to the New York Times, revealing his view that ICE’s actions “are going too far.”
| Company | ICE Contracts | Public Position |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic | No | Condemned violence, praised Trump for investigation |
| OpenAI | Not disclosed | Criticized ICE overreach, praised Trump |
Worker Mobilization
Tech workers are increasingly demanding accountability from their CEOs. The open letter circulated among employees of Anthropic and OpenAI and called for:
- Immediate cancellation of all ICE contracts.
- Public condemnation of ICE violence.
- A call to the White House to enforce a moratorium on ICE operations in cities.
The letter also urged other tech giants-Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta-to join the movement. ICEout.tech organizers emphasized that the CEOs of those companies had not yet responded.
Political Context and Praise for Trump
Both Amodei and Altman included praise for President Trump in their statements, a notable shift from earlier positions. Amodei applauded Trump’s suggestion to allow Minnesota authorities an independent investigation after videos of Alex Pretti’s death circulated online. Altman echoed Trump’s “very strong leader” comment, hoping the president would “rise to this moment and unite the country.”
J.J. Colao, founder of PR firm Haymaker Group and signatory on ICEout.tech’s letter, criticized Altman for “having it both ways” by praising Trump while ignoring the president’s responsibility for ICE actions. Colao noted that Altman’s public praise could diminish the seriousness of the issue.
Funding Landscape
The Trump administration’s AI-friendly policies have coincided with significant capital inflows for both companies. OpenAI has raised at least $40 billion and is in talks to raise another $100 billion at an $830 billion valuation. Anthropic has raised $19 billion and is in talks to raise another $25 billion at a $350 billion valuation.
| Company | Capital Raised | Current Valuation | Next Funding Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | $40 billion | $830 billion | $100 billion |
| Anthropic | $19 billion | $350 billion | $25 billion |
These figures illustrate the scale of investment tied to policy environments and the companies’ growth trajectories.
Key Takeaways
- Anthropic and OpenAI CEOs have publicly addressed ICE violence, but their messages differ in tone and scope.
- Employees are demanding concrete corporate actions, including contract cancellations and public condemnation.
- Praise for President Trump by both CEOs marks a shift from earlier critiques, raising questions about corporate alignment with political leadership.
- Funding rounds for both companies are sizable, reflecting the intersection of technology, policy, and capital markets.
The situation remains fluid. While the CEOs have taken steps to address the issue, the extent of their actions compared to employee expectations is still unfolding. The companies’ responses will likely influence broader industry conversations about corporate responsibility and the role of AI firms in national security and justice matters.
