Newsom announces California partnership with Anthropic AI
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a unique partnership with Anthropic AI, making Cloud the first AI available to all state agencies and local governments at a discounted price.
“We’re partnering to advance cybersecurity and providing @ClaudeAI to state agencies – and local governments in California – at a 50% discount. The Golden State helped build Silicon Valley – and every Californian should benefit from the responsible use of their latest innovations,” he announced.The development comes as Anthropic clashes with Donald Trump’s administration after the government restricted the rollout of the company’s most advanced models and classified them as a risk to the national supply chain.“AI should not replace the human work of government,” Newsom said in a statement regarding his humanitarian deal. “It should help our workers move faster, solve problems more effectively, and deliver better outcomes for Californians.”
Through the agreement, state agencies can access Anthropic’s AI productivity assistant, Claude, at a 50% discount, along with free workforce training as well as expert technical assistance from GenAI and workflow input from Anthropic developers.
The agreement also provides the same discounted offer to local governments in California, including cities and counties.“Building AI responsibly and at the service of people has been our approach from the beginning, and that’s exactly what this partnership puts into practice,” Kate Jensen, Anthropic’s president of the Americas, said in a statement.Claude is already used for customer service at the California DMV and for internal workflows that help Medicaid recipients manage health care services.
The state Department of Technology has a cybersecurity partnership with Anthropic, using Cloud to detect vulnerabilities in state code and critical systems.California’s broader AI campaign involves using the technology in government while tracking its potential impact on workers. Last week, Newsom’s office announced a tool to track whether artificial intelligence is contributing to job losses in the state. California’s first meeting with Anthropic regarding the deal was on March 5, the same day the Pentagon officially described Claude’s manufacturer as a supply chain risk.
