Claude Soars to Top App Spot After Anthropic-Pentagon AI Standoff

• Anthropic's Claude AI assistant became the No. 1 free app in the U.S. on Apple's chart after a public dispute with the Trump administration.
• The surge followed Anthropic's refusal to allow its AI for mass domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons, leading to criticism from President Donald Trump.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to designate Anthropic a national security supply-chain risk, potentially blocking U.S. defense contractors from its tools.
• Claude's rapid ascent pushed past rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, with its user base growing over 60% since January.
• The incident highlights intensifying AI rivalry, with OpenAI also expanding defense partnerships, and even pop star Katy Perry endorsing Claude.